Kinshasa, May 6th, 2026 (CPA).- The Digital Code establishes the protection of minors against violent content in the virtual world in a real legal obligation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a lawyer has noted on Wednesday during an interview in Kinshasa with CPA. “DRC’s Digital Code establishes the protection of minors against violent content in the virtual world as a genuine legal obligation. Several key provisions structure this system, notably Articles 71, 247, 263(23) and 357, which outline a coherent and ambitious regulatory framework,” has declared Ms Paola Anem, a lawyer at the Kinshasa-Gombe Bar.
In her view, there is a responsibility for the digital service providers to ensure that their platforms do not disseminate content that is offensive to human dignity. This provision, she has added, places the technical hosting providers and social media access providers at the heart of prevention efforts, notably by requiring them to establish effective mechanisms for reporting and removing violent content. However, the Digital Code does not limit itself to this primary responsibility; it goes a step further by also classifying the dissemination of content harmful to minors as a digital offence. “It explicitly prohibits the posting online of content likely to harm the physical or psychological well-being of children, thereby paving the way for criminal proceedings against both the authors and the distributors,” she has emphasised. Lawyer Paola Anem has also raised the thorny issue of child pornography, citing Article 357.
This article states: “The act of producing, distributing, disseminating, importing, exporting, offering, making available, selling, procuring for oneself or for others, or possessing any pornographic material involving a child via a computer system or an electronic communications network is punishable by five to fifteen years’ imprisonment and a fine of two thousand to one million Congolese francs (FC)”. This provision illustrates, according to the source, the legislator’s determination to severely punish all forms of online sexual exploitation of minors, making it an absolute priority. “The provisions demonstrate the Congolese State’s commitment to make child protection a central pillar of digital law. In a country where young people make up a significant proportion of the population, this issue goes beyond the legal framework to become part of a broader approach to public safety and social welfare. The Digital Code is thus part of an international trend, whilst affirming an approach tailored to national realities,” has concluded the lawyer.