Under the new policy, Iraq’s CMC will require influencers to register and pay annual fees. [Getty]
In a surprise move that has sparked fierce criticism from across Iraq‘s digital landscape, the country’s Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has announced new regulations imposing annual fees on influencers and content creators.
The announcement, made public on Sunday, outlines a sweeping framework that will see social media users with large followings taxed based on their audience size—an unprecedented step critics say threatens freedom of expression and could pave the way for censorship and abuse.
“The regulation aims to create a structured environment for digital content and advertising on social platforms,” said CMC spokesperson Haider Najm Al-Alaq in an interview with the Iraqi News Agency (INA). “It applies to all influencers, bloggers and public figures with wide media reach, and seeks to ensure transparency, credibility, and public protection from unprofessional promotional content.”
But many Iraqis, including legal experts and prominent figures in the media and cultural spheres, have pushed back—hard.
‘Tax on fame’
Under the new policy, the CMC will require influencers to register and pay annual fees ranging from 250,000 to 1 million Iraqi dinars (approximately $190 to $770), depending on their follower count. Those with more than five million followers will pay the highest fee. The regulation also outlines vague content standards, including the need to “respect national sovereignty,” “avoid harm to Iraq’s reputation,” and “support state institutions in combatting terrorism and extremism.”
But what qualifies as a violation remains murky.
“This decision is sudden, illogical, and baffling,” said Omar al-Janabi, an Iraqi journalist and popular blogger with over 300,000 followers on X. “It does not distinguish between commercial advertising and political commentary, nor between platforms. A journalist posting news on X is treated the same as a YouTube influencer selling skin cream.”
Al-Janabi argued that the regulation effectively penalises public visibility. “Why should I pay just because I have 300,000 followers? I don’t earn a single dinar from my posts,” he said. “It’s a tax on fame, not a system to improve digital standards.”
Several Iraqi legal professionals have raised serious concerns about the legality of the move. Lawyers told The New Arab that the imposition of taxes must be enacted by parliamentary law—not by administrative decree. The CMC’s announcement did not refer to specific legal authority or constitutional articles.
An Iraqi Kurdish lawyer, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, suggested that the real motive might be political. “This could be a pretext to pressure or shut down critics on social media under the guise of regulation,” the lawyer said. “Especially those who expose corruption or challenge dominant political narratives.”
That concern was echoed by Darbaz Jamal, a well-known Iraqi Kurdish poet with over 500,000 followers on YouTube. “It is a rash and poorly thought-out decision,” he told TNA. “If implemented, many content creators will either shut down their platforms or look for ways to bypass the system.”
Jamal added that Iraq’s presence on platforms like Facebook is not monetised in the way it is in other countries, meaning that even large pages do not generate significant income. “Even a page with one million followers doesn’t make the half-million dinar they’re demanding. What exactly are we paying for?”
‘Silencing dissent’
Furthermore, the regulation states that “affected individuals” have the right to file complaints with the Commission or the judiciary, which has also drawn scrutiny.
“But who exactly are these affected individuals? The public? The blogger? Who? Such vague and open-ended language is likely to open the door to new layers of restrictions that limit freedom of expression on digital platforms,” Al-Janabi questioned.
Some fear the measure will be used to unmask and silence anonymous critics of armed factions and political parties, particularly those linked to Iran-backed groups. Al-Janabi, who has received death threats for his reporting and commentary, said he’s never once been contacted or protected by the CMC or the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate.
“If you criticise a militia or a corrupt politician, they will come after you,” he said. “Now the CMC wants to know your name, your content, your revenue. It’s not regulation—it’s intimidation,” Al-Janabi added.
The CMC claims the policy will support ethical media, uphold consumer rights, and protect vulnerable groups. Yet critics argue that the commission has long ignored hate speech, sectarian propaganda, and misinformation from outlets aligned with powerful political forces.
“Those setting the standards for our digital media are the same people running partisan propaganda outlets,” said al-Janabi. “It’s like asking arsonists to manage the fire brigade.”
The chilling effect on digital expression in Iraq may already be underway. Influencers and independent voices are now weighing the risks of remaining active on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X.
As outrage builds, many Iraqis are calling for the regulation to be rescinded or challenged in court. Whether that happens may depend on how many voices remain free to speak out before the silence sets in.
