Rwanda: Law No. 60/2018 on Prevention and Punishment of Cyber Crimes including content moderation regulation entered into force

On 25 September 2018, the Law No. 60/2018 on Prevention and Punishment of Cyber Crimes enters into force following its publication in the Official Gazette. The law aims to address and penalise various forms of cybercrime, including unauthorised access to computer systems, data interception, and the dissemination of harmful or illegal content online. It outlines the obligations of service providers to prevent and address cybercrimes. Article 43 prohibits the creation or publication of websites for trafficking or distributing drugs or narcotics, with offenders facing imprisonment and fines. Article 46 mandates that hosting or hyperlink providers remove or disable access to illegal information upon receiving orders from competent authorities, with non-compliance resulting in imprisonment and fines. Article 50 requires service providers to act on take-down notifications related to unlawful materials or activities, with penalties for failure to comply. Article 48 addresses offences involving stored information, such as failing to remove illegal content after obtaining knowledge or ignoring lawful conditions of access. Article 49 penalises search engine providers for modifying transmitted information in search results. Business entities found guilty of offences under the law may face fines proportional to their profits, and courts may impose additional penalties, including confiscation or closure.