Legal Governance of Government Social Media Accounts: An Analytical Study within the Framework of Libyan Law and International Human Rights Standards

Abstract

This research examines the legal framework governing the use of government social media accounts in Libya, comparing it with international and regional human rights standards—specifically regarding freedom of opinion and expression, the right to access information, and privacy and data protection. The significance of this topic stems from the evolution of government accounts from mere auxiliary information tools into digital assets through which public administration bodies perform communication and service-related functions, thereby raising issues concerning institutional ownership. ...transparency, archiving, information security, and the parameters for managing public interaction. The research concludes that the Libyan framework underwent significant development between 2021 and 2026 notably through the issuance of the Government Communication Regulation, national policies on information security and safety, the 2024 controls for government account usage, and the regulation governing government digital media platforms, followed by the establishment of the National Authority for Cybersecurity and Digital Sovereignty in July 2026. However, this progress still requires further legislative and institutional consolidation to ensure clarity of mandates and effective accountability, as well as to establish more explicit safeguards for the right to information, freedom of interaction, and privacy.