Gabon enforces real-name policy for social media users

A new legislative measure governing social media usage in Gabon has sparked significant public outcry. While the official ordinance was signed on February 26, its contents only recently surfaced online, triggering intense discussion across the country.

Identification requirements and the end of anonymity

The most contentious part of the text is Article 4, which strictly prohibits the use of pseudonyms. Under these new rules, every social media participant must be clearly identifiable. This requires users to disclose their full legal names and their Personal Identification Number (NIP). Furthermore, businesses operating online are now obligated to provide their official commercial registration data.

Support for digital accountability

Bienvenue Effayong, a prominent content producer often referred to by the alias Bitome (which translates to “trouble” in the local language), has voiced strong support for the measure. As a figure close to the government who often faces backlash from anonymous accounts, he views the law as a vital tool for justice.

Effayong expressed total agreement with the ban, stating that individuals frequently utilize fake profiles to engage in defamation, insults, and even attempts to destabilize the nation. In his view, the end of anonymity means that every citizen must now take full responsibility for their online communications.

Concerns over democratic freedoms

However, the move has met with fierce resistance from other quarters. Marcel Libama, a former deputy of the Transition, characterizes the ordinance as a major blow to the freedom of expression protected by the national Constitution. He argues that such restrictive measures represent a step backward for Gabonese democracy and are fundamentally at odds with constitutional rights.

Legal status and government objectives

Since the ordinance was issued while Parliament was in recess, it went into effect immediately. Nevertheless, it must still undergo parliamentary scrutiny, where it could be ratified, modified, or entirely rejected. This legal shift occurs in a context where social media platforms have been officially suspended in Gabon since last February.

The government justifies these strict regulations as a means to shield the youth from digital harms and to prevent various forms of online misconduct, including character assassination and threats against state institutions.