Briceño Moves To Rewrite Belize’s Cybercrime Act

The Briceño Government is moving to rewrite a section of the Cybercrime Act. 

Prime Minister John Briceño introduced the Cybercrime Amendment Bill 2026 in the House of Representatives today. It targets Section 15(4), which makes it an offence to spread false information online with intent to harm someone’s reputation or expose them to ridicule, contempt, hatred or embarrassment. 

“As digital communication has evolved, concerns have emerged regarding the breadth of the existing provision and its potential application to a wide range of online expression, including political commentary, satire, parody, journalism, and criticism of public officials,” Briceño said.  

Briceño said a government review found the provision is “framed in terms that are broader than is necessary to address serious cyber-enabled harm.”

The bill would limit the offence to fabricated, altered or impersonated digital content that is falsely presented as real and shared for serious harmful purposes. Briceño named malicious deepfakes, impersonation, extortion, threats and targeted harassment as examples.

It would also protect satire, parody, honest opinion, fair comment, fair and accurate reporting, and publication on matters of public interest. Briceño said these should not be criminalised “merely because they are offensive, embarrassing, or critical of public figures.”

Under the bill, no one could be prosecuted under the Act without the written consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Briceño said that requirement would “reduce the risk of inappropriate, vexatious, or politically motivated proceedings.”

The House sent the bill to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee for review.