SECTOR 2 2.11 The country has a coherent ICT policy and/or the government implements promotional measures, which aim to meet the information needs of all citizens, including marginalised communities. According to one of the panel members, the Information and communication technologies (ICT) policy is fragmented and lacks cohesion. The panel cites Act nº 2012-018 of December 17, 2012 on electronic communications, as amended by Act nº 2013- 003 of February 19, 2013, to explain that there is indeed political will on the part of the Government but that, in spite of the presence of a digital Ministry of the Economy, the practical application is missing. A public Wi-Fi policy and the zero-rating of software development tools is already being implemented. But disadvantaged communities do not have access to these benefits. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.4 (2013 = 1.6; 2010 = 1.5) 2.12 Government does not use its power over the placement of advertisements as a means to interfere with editorial content. The panel feels that advertising is directed to “right-thinking” media outlets, in other words those who are supportive of the authorities. The authorities are therefore in a position to influence the editorial content. Moreover, certain media outlets openly complain of being excluded from the advertising market. Because in their case, the allocation of (state-funded) advertising is not based on objective criteria. Communication units that have an advertising portfolio are accused of sorting through media outlets to eliminate some of them. In order to benefit from advertising, the director of a media outlet must be a friend of the company’s general manager or come from the same ethnic group. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TOGO 2017 89