Ebène:A national awareness campaign aimed at promoting responsible social media use and addressing issues such as online abuse, cyberbullying, and the spread of false information was launched on November 6, 2026. The initiative seeks to encourage safer online behavior and raise public awareness of the consequences of harmful activities on digital platforms.
According to Government of Mauritius, the campaign was announced by the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Dr. Avinash Ramtohul, during a press conference organized by the Ministry, in collaboration with the Information and Communication Technologies Authority, at SICOM Tower in Ebène.
Dr. Ramtohul highlighted the increasing incidence of cyber-related offenses in Mauritius. The Computer Emergency Response Team of Mauritius (CERT-MU) reported 5,754 cyber incidents between January 1 and November 5, 2026, averaging nearly 19 incidents daily. These incidents included online harassment, cyberbullying, scams and fraud, reports of fake news, identity theft, sextortion, and cases involving child exploitation and abuse.
The Minister emphasized that social media should be a space for communication and freedom of expression rather than a platform for harassment or exploitation. He clarified that the campaign does not intend to restrict freedom of expression or legitimate criticism but instead aims to address online behavior that violates the rights of others.
In efforts to strengthen online safety, Dr. Ramtohul mentioned that the government is pursuing a cooperation framework with Meta to establish dedicated communication channels, accelerate responses to serious online abuse cases, facilitate content removal, and preserve digital evidence. The framework is expected to be operational within the next six months.
Amendments to the Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Act 2021 have been submitted for vetting, and new regulations under the Information and Communication Technologies Act are being considered to strengthen online protection for children and young people.
Proposed measures, subject to discussions with Meta, include a default daily screen-time limit for teenagers, a School Mode to restrict notifications during school hours, and a Sleep Mode to block notifications during nighttime.
Dr. Ramtohul also highlighted the importance of protecting victims of online abuse, particularly women affected by the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The government is exploring cooperation with initiatives aimed at preventing the circulation of such images without consent and strengthening support and reporting mechanisms for victims.
A dedicated Cyber Incident Call Centre will be established to facilitate reporting of cyber incidents, complementing the existing Mauritian Cybercrime Online Reporting System.
Dr. Ramtohul stressed the need for collective effort in promoting responsible social media use, urging parents, young people, and all users to act responsibly online and verify information before sharing it.
