Countering terrorism is a Government priority

The publication of Decree-Law 25/2026 sets up more agile mechanisms to counter the dissemination of terrorist content on the internet.

The Minister of Justice stressed that the bill is yet another step in countering terrorism, one of the Government’s top priorities and invests in fostering media literacy and countering disinformation".

The bill transposes into the Portuguese legal framework EU Regulation 2021/784 and was approved by the Council of Ministers on 11 December 2025 on Justice affairs.

This Decree-Law implements agile procedures for removing or blocking online terrorist content. The Criminal Police is in charge of issuing the suppression or blocking decisions to be enforced by the online platforms within one hour.  The Criminal Police also acts as the national Point of Contact and enforces cross border decisions from other EU Member States. 

The Criminal Police immediately notifies the Public Prosecution Office at the Central Investigation and Criminal Action Department (DCIAP), which validates the decision within a maximum timeframe of 48 hours with a judge. The Portuguese Communications Authority (ANACOM) oversees compliance with the measures by the providers, as well as imposing sanctions and penalties that vary depending on the severity of the offence.

The appeals for court rulings are assessed by the Court of Appeal with non-suspensive effects, whereas the penalties imposed by ANACOM are judged by the Competition Court.

According to Rita Alarcão Júdice, " this ensures the equilibrium of the Single Digital Market against radicalisation and freedom of speech".

It is the Government’s understanding that digital service providers must take on added accountability in promoting a safe, secure, and democratic virtual environment.

Countering the dissemination of online terrorist content