Decriminalise defamation and desist from arbitrary arrests, torture and intimidation of journalists, human rights activists, and government critics. Allow for independent judicial oversight over surveillance requests and enact a data protection legislation in line with international human rights standards Repeal the provisions of Article 289 of the Penal Code Act, 2008 and Clause 28 of the Media Authority Act on criminal defamation. Amend the provisions of Articles 13 and 32 of the National Security Act of 2014 in line with international human rights standards on surveillance requests. Uphold Clause 6 (13) (b) of the Media Authority Act which protects media from censorship by any official or non-official authority. Adhere to the provisions of Section 17 of the Right of Access to Information Act on proactive disclosures of public information. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least six journalists were killed in the course of their work between 2015 and 2017.1 On 14 September 2020, Zachariah Makuach Maror was sentenced to one year in jail for the offence of defamation under section 289 of the Penal Code Act. The sentence was for an article he published on government corruption with The Dawn Newspaper in January 2020.2 The South Sudan National Security Service (NSS) has carried out various attacks on media practitioners including: Removal of articles criticising the government in Al-Mougif, an Arabic daily newspaper.3 Arrest of the Voice of Eastern Equatorial Radio journalist, Ijoo Bosco for sharing news on human rights abuses in South Sudan4 and Jackson Ochaya5 for allegedly quoting a rebel spokesperson, respectively. Increase in public proclamations and intimidation of journalists by government officials which included urging them not to ‘cross the red line’ in their coverage.6 Article 32 National Security Services Act (NSS Act) provides the NSS with unfettered powers to monitor communications and gather information relating to any person without adequate privacy safeguards. Surveillance in South Sudan has created a chilling effect among citizens as government actors deploy various rights-averse and privacy-threatening equipment to monitor human rights activists, journalists and critics.7 The NSS has expanded its surveillance and infiltration beyond security institutions, to civil society organisations, media houses, and universities countrywide without effective safeguards for privacy rights.8 According to the United Nations, agents have used these powers to intimidate, detain, and murder journalists, opposition activists, civil-society representatives, and non-Dinka citizens, forcing many to flee the country. 9 Put measures in place to reduce the cost of Internet access and ensure its affordability. Only 8% of individuals use the Internet in South Sudan.10 Internet access is limited to the capital Juba and few major towns, leaving out the vast majority of South Sudanese people living in rural areas.