Fake accounts, profiles, and digital identities are explicitly targeted by the new draft law on cybercrime in Madagascar. The text also aims to hold group administrators and internet users who knowingly share clearly illegal content accountable.
A version 2.0. A bill to reform cybercrime legislation is currently under review, with a plenary vote scheduled at the National Assembly this Friday. The stated objective is to modernize the current legal framework to provide national authorities with more effective tools that comply with international standards while respecting the rule of law and fundamental rights.
One of the key innovations concerns fake profiles, commonly known as “fake accounts,” which are now subject to more precise and stricter regulations. Article 17 provides for a prison sentence of two to five years and a fine ranging from 5,000,000 to 50,000,000 Ariary for those who create, organize, or participate in coordinated information manipulation networks.
The bill also imposes harsher penalties for “digital fraud or scams,” especially when committed via fake profiles, with potential prison terms of up to ten years and fines reaching 100,000,000 Ariary. Penalties are doubled if the acts are committed by an organized group, have a transnational character, or are amplified by artificial intelligence (AI).
Compared to the 2014 law, this new draft addresses modern forms of cybercrime, including cyber-harassment, cryptocurrency-related offenses, AI-related crimes, and “sextortion.” It also strengthens the fight against online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Furthermore, the bill extends liability to group administrators and page managers who knowingly allow illegal content to remain on their platforms after being notified. Similarly, individuals who knowingly share or republish illegal content may also face criminal charges.
Finally, the text includes a safeguard clause stating that no provision of this law should be interpreted as authorizing the repression of human rights or fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, conscience, or association.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-02 05:53:34 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/cybercriminalite-letau-se-resserre.html