Editing Communications in Burundi (section)

==Internet==

* Internet [[top-level domain]]: [[.bi]]<ref name="cia14" /> 
* [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet users]]:
** 128,799 users, 167th in the world; 1.2% of the population, 208th in the world (2012);<ref name=NIUCalc>Calculated using penetration rate and population data from [https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329060848/https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php |date=2017-03-29 }}, Population data, International Programs,  U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013</ref><ref name=ITU-IndividualsUsingTheInternet>[http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/Individuals_Internet_2000-2012.xls "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012"], International Telecommunication Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013</ref>
** &nbsp;&nbsp;65,000 users, 167th in the world (2008);<ref name="cia14" />
** &nbsp;&nbsp;60,000 users (2006).<ref name="cia14" />
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Fixed broadband]]: 422 subscriptions, 189th in the world; less than 0.05% of the population, 191st in the world (2012).<ref name=NIUCalc/><ref name="FixedBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726064920/http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx |date=2019-07-26 }}, Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Wireless broadband]]: Unknown (2012).<ref name="FixedBroadbandITUDynamic2012" />
* [[List of countries by number of Internet hosts|Internet hosts]]:
** 229 hosts. 198th in the world (2012);<ref name="cia14"/>
** 191 hosts, 189th in the world (2009);<ref name="cia14" />
** 162 hosts (2008).<ref name="cia14" />
* [[List of countries by IPv4 address allocation|IPv4]]: 5,376 addresses allocated, less than 0.05% of the world total, 0.5 addresses per 1000 people (2012).<ref>[http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ Select Formats] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513033601/http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ |date=2009-05-13 }}, Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html Population] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004113653/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html |date=2018-10-04 }}, [[The World Factbook]], [[United States]] [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.</ref>

===Internet censorship and surveillance===

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports that the government monitors [[e-mail]] or Internet [[chat rooms]].<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Burundi-2012>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204095 "Burundi"], ''Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012'', Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 10 April 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.</ref> Operating in a turbulent political climate, Burundi's media are subject to occasional government [[censorship]] and may practice [[self-censorship]].<ref name=BBCNewProfile-Burundi-2013/>

The constitution and law provide for [[freedom of speech]] and [[freedom of the press|press]], and the government generally respects these rights. The law prohibits the media from spreading "[[hate speech|hate]]" messages or from using abusive or defamatory language against public servants acting in their official role that could damage the dignity of or respect for the public office. [[Libel]] laws prohibit the public distribution of information that exposes a person to "[[Contempt|public contempt]]" and carry penalties of prison terms and fines. The crime of [[treason]], which includes knowingly demoralizing the military or the nation in a manner that endangers national defense during a time of war, carries a criminal penalty of life imprisonment. It is a crime for anyone knowingly to disseminate or publicize false rumors likely to alarm or excite the public against the government or to promote civil war. It is illegal for anyone to display drawings, posters, photographs, or other items that may disturb the [[Public-order crime|public peace]]. Penalties range from two months' to three years' imprisonment and fines. Some journalists, lawyers, and political party, civil society, and NGO leaders allege the government uses these laws to intimidate and harass them.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Burundi-2012/>

The constitution and law provide for the right to privacy, but the government does not always respect this right in practice. Authorities do not always respect the law requiring search warrants.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Burundi-2012/>