Before the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Minister of Communication, Digital Affairs, and Telecommunications, Aliou Sall, presented the draft law establishing and defining the functions of the National Media Regulatory Council (CNRM). Addressing the parliamentarians, the Minister emphasized the institution's scope and limitations, aiming to dispel any ambiguity surrounding this major reform.

According to Aliou Sall, the CNRM will be an independent and modern authority, capable of regulating the entire Senegalese information ecosystem, including print and online media, digital and sharing platforms (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.), content creators, and foreign media accessible from Senegal. The minister emphasized that the regulator will have enhanced financial, technological, and human resources to detect disinformation, counter content generated by artificial intelligence, and protect the public.

The CNRM will also have real, regulated, and proportionate sanctioning powers, with avenues for appeal, to guarantee respect for the rules while protecting freedom of expression. Finally, its governance will be transparent: three-year terms renewable once, open applications for members, obligations of impartiality, and oaths of allegiance before the competent courts.

A societal reform

Furthermore, Aliou Sall emphasized several points to clarify the limits of the future regulator. It is not a tool for censorship. Freedom of expression, a pillar of democracy, remains intact, he stated.

He added that he is not targeting foreign platforms or social media in a punitive manner, but rather enforcing the law and protecting citizens. "This is not a temporary measure in response to a crisis, but a structural reform aimed at preparing Senegal for future challenges," he said. He emphasized the CNRM's social and educational role, particularly in protecting minors from violent, hateful, or inappropriate content, and in holding information professionals accountable.

“This bill is not merely technical; it is a societal choice,” declared Aliou Sall. He maintained: “It is about choosing an orderly, responsible, and protective public space, where freedom of expression is exercised with respect for fundamental rights and social cohesion.”

The minister concluded by calling on the deputies to enrich the text with their proposals and amendments, stressing that the CNRM must be a credible, respected and effective instrument, capable of regulating a complex and globalized media landscape.