LEGAL CHALLENGES FACING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN PREVENTING AND COMBATING PORNOGRAPHY IN TANZANIA
This Article examine the legal challenges faced by the law enforcement agencies (Tanzania Police Force, TCRA, NPS, and the Court of Law) in Tanzania in their efforts to prevent and combat pornography. Despite the existence of statutory instruments such as Cybercrime Act No. 14 of 2015, The Electronic and Postal Communications Act (EPOCA) of 2010 and the Penal Code Cap 16 Revised Edition 2023, enforcement remain problematic due to the rapid evolution of digital technologies and the transnational nature of online content. The widespread use of smartphones, social media, and encrypted platform has enabled the proliferation of pornographic material, often beyond the reach of domestic legal jurisdiction. This article examines the legal barriers that curb the law enforcement agencies on combating and preventing pornography in Tanzania includes; ambiguous of the definitions of pornography and limited provisions for strong penalties. It also examines the legal framework governing pornographic contents in Tanzania, also on institutional limitations of law enforcement such as inadequate technical capacity, insufficient cybercrime training. These factors collectively hinder effective implementation of anti-pornography laws. This article conclude by finding a way by making recommendations to strengthen the prevention of pornography in Tanzania, by suggesting the law reforms, strengthen the technologies, and public awareness to strengthen Tanzania response to digital obscenity. Therefore, by addressing above recommendation Tanzania will strengthen in preventing and combating pornography which is mostly problem currently.
Keywords: pornography, obscene material, law enforcement agencies
