Encryption Law by Country
Where strong encryption is a right, restricted, or compelled. National law and policy, mirrored per country.
Source: Global Partners Digital, World Map of Encryption, updated 2026-07-02. Full data at www.gp-digital.org/world-map-of-encryption
Encryption Law by Country (196)
General right to encryption
No known legislation or policies.
Mandatory minimum or maximum encryption strength
No known legislation or policies.
Licensing/registration requirements
Article 9 of the Telecommunications Code provides that the government may, by decree, set out the conditions and procedures for the use of encryption facilities or services through public telecommunications networks and the exercise of related activities. Article 4 of Decree N° 2008-2639 dated 21 July 2008 regulates the importation and commercialisation of encryption systems for telecommunications networks and provides that the National Agency of Digital Certification is responsible for technical approval of the commercialisation and importation of such systems. Article 7 of the Decree provides that Centre for Studies and Researches of Telecommunications, comprising members appointed by the Minister of Communications, is responsible for administrative approval of the the commercialisation and importation of systems. Article 3 sets out exceptions to these general requirements for technical and administrative approval. These are those that have already been approved by the National Agency of Digital Certification under Article 4, as set out in a list published by the Agency, and those imported by business enterprises for their own purposes and for temporary use, with a list of such enterprises published by the Agency. Additionally, Article 1 provides that the Decree does not apply to encryption used to transmit data through telecommunications networks, nor to any encryption used by the Ministries of National Defence, the Interior, or Foreign Affairs, or by diplomatic and consular missions in Tunisia. The use, manufacture, import, expert, selling or distribution of cryptographic means or services in violation of the requirements of the decree is a criminal offence, punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of between 1,000 and 5,000 TND, or both. A copy of the Code in Arabic can be found here and in French here . A copy of the decree in English, French and Arabic can be found here .
Import/export controls
Article 9 of the Telecommunications Code provides that the government may, by decree, set out the conditions and procedures for the use of encryption facilities or services through public telecommunications networks and the exercise of related activities. Article 4 of Decree N° 2008-2639 dated 21 July 2008 regulates the importation and commercialisation of encryption systems for telecommunications networks and provides that the National Agency of Digital Certification is responsible for technical approval of the commercialisation and importation of such systems. Article 7 of the Decree provides that Centre for Studies and Researches of Telecommunications, comprising members appointed by the Minister of Communications, is responsible for administrative approval of the the commercialisation and importation of systems. Article 3 sets out exceptions to these general requirements for technical and administrative approval. These are those that have already been approved by the National Agency of Digital Certification under Article 4, as set out in a list published by the Agency, and those imported by business enterprises for their own purposes and for temporary use, with a list of such enterprises published by the Agency. Additionally, Article 1 provides that the Decree does not apply to encryption used to transmit data through telecommunications networks, nor to any encryption used by the Ministries of National Defence, the Interior, or Foreign Affairs, or by diplomatic and consular missions in Tunisia. The use, manufacture, import, expert, selling or distribution of cryptographic means or services in violation of the requirements of the decree is a criminal offence, punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of between 1,000 and 5,000 TND, or both. A copy of the Code in Arabic can be found here and in French here . A copy of the decree in English, French and Arabic can be found here .
Other restrictions
No known legislation or policies.
Obligations on individuals to assist authorities
No known legislation or policies.
Obligations on providers to assist authorities
No known legislation or policies.
Assessment Text Area
In Tunisia, the use of encryption facilities or services through public telecommunications networks is regulated by the country’s Telecommunications Code. The law also regulates the importation and commercialisation of encryption systems for telecommunications networks and requires the government’s approval of the commercialisation and importation of such systems. The conditions and exceptions to these general requirements for technical and administrative approval is listed in the regulation.
Murphy's Law