Tanzania: Govt Warns Against Sharing Images of Vulnerable Children

What the report says

Tanzania’s Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups has cautioned content creators, journalists and the public against posting images or videos of vulnerable children, saying the practice can breach the law and cause lasting harm. The warning was reported by Daily News in Dar es Salaam and comes as social media makes it easier to circulate child-related content for attention or engagement.

Assistant Commissioner for Social Welfare and Child Services Happy Msimbe said the Law of the Child Act, Cap 13, bars producing or sharing content that exposes children in sensitive settings, including children’s homes, juvenile remand facilities and approved schools. She said offenders can face a fine of at least 5 million Tanzanian shillings, six months in prison, or both. The article cites Section 162(1)(k) as the legal basis for the restriction.

According to the ministry, public sharing of such material can stigmatize children and keep painful experiences alive long after the immediate situation has passed. Msimbe urged people to conceal a child’s face when there is a legitimate need to communicate information. The ministry framed the warning as part of wider efforts to strengthen child protection, online safety and safeguards against abuse and exploitation.

The report also noted broader government child-protection work discussed in the National Assembly, including ongoing programs on parenting, early childhood development and violence prevention. These efforts are intended to protect children’s dignity and privacy while reducing harm from digital platforms and public exposure.