Know the law: the Cybercrimes Act, 2015

Tanzania's Cybercrimes Act, 2015 (Act No. 14 of 2015) is the main law covering online and computer-related offences. Here is a short, plain-language summary of the parts most relevant to your situation. This is general information, not legal advice — a lawyer or a legal aid service can advise on your specific case.

Hacking and entering accounts without permission

Breaking into someone's computer, phone or account without permission, or intercepting their messages, is a crime. This covers someone who guesses, steals or resets your password to get into your accounts.

Penalty under the Act: Fine of at least TZS 3,000,000 or three times the undue advantage gained (whichever is greater), or imprisonment of at least 1 year, or both — Section 4.

Impersonation and identity misuse

Using another person's name, photos or details to create a fake profile or to pretend to be them online is an identity-related crime.

Penalty under the Act: Fine of at least TZS 5,000,000 or three times the undue advantage gained (whichever is greater), or imprisonment of at least 7 years, or both — Section 15.

Cyberbullying and insulting messages

The Act addresses cyberbullying, including messages that humiliate, insult or intimidate a person. These are criminal offences, so the person sending them can face fines or imprisonment.

Penalty under the Act: Fine of at least TZS 5,000,000, or imprisonment of at least 3 years, or both — Section 23.

Private images and sexual content

The Act criminalises sexual content involving children, and handles obscene material shared online. Sharing someone's private images without their agreement is treated seriously under Tanzanian law.

Penalty under the Act: Child pornography: fine of at least TZS 50,000,000 or imprisonment of at least 7 years, or both. Obscene material: fine of at least TZS 30,000,000 or imprisonment of at least 10 years, or both — Sections 13–14.

Scams, fraud and forgery

Computer-related fraud and forgery are crimes — for example fake prize messages, investment scams, or forged documents and identities used online.

Penalty under the Act: Fine of at least TZS 20,000,000 or three times the undue advantage gained (whichever is greater), or imprisonment of at least 7 years, or both — Sections 11–12.

Publishing false information

The Act also criminalises publishing false information online. If someone spreads lies about you, keep screenshots of what was posted — this record can help when you report it to the platform or the police.

Penalty under the Act: Fine of at least TZS 5,000,000, or imprisonment of at least 3 years, or both — Section 16.

These are the minimum penalties in the official revised edition of the Act (2023). Amounts and terms can be higher, and the Act has been amended since — the official text and a lawyer can give you exact, current figures.

The Act covers more topics than listed here — for example how electronic evidence is collected and how investigations work — and it has been amended since 2015. Use the official links below to read the full text.

Read the full Act (official government sources)

SafeOnline links to the official government text only. SafeOnline does not give legal advice.