Millions of followers. Thousands of livestreams. A new generation of digital celebrities with unprecedented influence.

Tunisia has entered a new era where online popularity can translate into money, power, and public influence. But as TikTok personalities become increasingly visible, one question is becoming impossible to ignore: does the law apply equally to everyone, regardless of fame, wealth, or audience size?

Tunisia is living through a profound digital transformation.

In just a few years, platforms such as TikTok have evolved from entertainment applications into some of the country's most influential public spaces. A single livestream can attract hundreds of thousands of viewers within minutes. Online creators now command audiences larger than many traditional media outlets, generate substantial income through virtual gifts and livestream battles, and shape conversations that extend far beyond the digital world.

The rise of these creators has introduced a new form of influence—one measured not by political office or institutional authority, but by followers, engagement, and visibility.

With that influence comes an increasingly important public question.

Are the same rules applied to everyone, or does online fame create a different reality?

This debate is no longer about TikTok alone.

It is about public confidence in institutions.

It is about whether citizens believe that justice operates independently of popularity, money, or digital influence.

And many Tunisians continue to ask a broader question:

Mr. President Kais Saied, is the State listening?

When Livestreaming Becomes a New Form of Power

The emergence of livestream culture has created an entirely new class of public figures.

For many creators, TikTok has become a full-time profession. Live broadcasts generate significant audiences, virtual gifts have created new revenue streams, and online "battles" have become a lucrative form of digital entertainment.

For others, livestreaming is more than business. It has become a platform for political commentary, criticism of public institutions, social activism, and public confrontation.

The influence of these personalities increasingly extends beyond entertainment. Their words shape opinions, mobilize supporters, influence public conversations, and sometimes spark national controversy.

As digital influence grows, so does the expectation of accountability.

The discussion is no longer simply about content creation.

It is about the relationship between influence, responsibility, and the rule of law.

Several Influencers at the Center of Tunisia's Digital Debate

A number of online personalities have become recurring subjects of public discussion because of their broadcasts, public statements, or controversies widely circulated across social media.

This article does not determine legal responsibility.

Any alleged violation of Tunisian law can only be established by the competent authorities and the judiciary.

The purpose of this article is to examine the public debate surrounding these figures and the wider questions their influence raises.

Colombi: A Million Followers, Digital Wealth, and Public Scrutiny

Among the most recognizable names in Tunisia's livestreaming ecosystem is Colombi, who has amassed more than one million followers while residing in Tunisia.

His broadcasts regularly attract large audiences, making him one of the country's most visible digital personalities. His popularity has even extended beyond social media through appearances associated with Tunisian television and online media.

Alongside that success, Colombi has also become one of the most debated figures in Tunisia's online community.

Public discussions have focused on several issues, including his livestream content, his public statements, and comments related to Tunisia's Law 54 governing certain forms of online speech.

His livestream battles have generated particular attention because of their financial scale. Social media users have widely circulated claims suggesting that a single battle generated more than US$38,000 in gifts within only a few minutes.

Beyond the numbers, broader questions have emerged regarding digital payment systems, international financial transfers, taxation, and the transparency of income generated through livestream platforms.

Supporters view Colombi as a successful entrepreneur operating within the modern creator economy.

Critics argue that creators with enormous audiences should be subject to the same legal and ethical standards as everyone else.

The question raised by many observers is straightforward:

When someone has the attention of more than one million people, should influence come with greater responsibility?

Marven: Influence Beyond the Broadcast

Marven has also established himself as one of the better-known personalities within Tunisia's livestream community.

His public support for Colombi during various online controversies has placed him at the center of discussions about solidarity among digital creators.

Supporters see this as ordinary interaction within an online community.

Critics argue that public endorsements from influential creators can amplify controversial messages and personalities.

The discussion surrounding Marven is ultimately less about one individual than about a broader principle:

Do creators with massive audiences carry additional responsibility because of the influence they exercise over public opinion?

El Khal: Political Commentary From Abroad

El Khal, a Tunisian creator living abroad, has built a substantial audience through political commentary and social criticism.

His broadcasts often contain direct criticism of political figures, public institutions, and government policies.

Supporters describe his content as legitimate political expression.

Critics argue that provocation has become part of the formula for attracting online attention and engagement.

Several publicly available videos have generated strong reactions among viewers, reflecting the increasingly polarized nature of Tunisia's digital public sphere.

Whether any statement constitutes a legal violation remains solely for the competent judicial authorities to determine.

His case illustrates a broader challenge faced by many democracies:

How should societies balance freedom of expression with public responsibility in an era where digital personalities reach millions of people?

Dado: National Symbols, Politics, and Public Controversy

Dado, a Tunisian content creator based in Austria, has also attracted significant attention through controversial online publications and livestreams.

Some of his content has generated debate involving national symbols, political commentary, and broader cultural issues.

Supporters argue that unpopular opinions remain protected forms of expression.

Critics believe certain publications unnecessarily inflame social tensions and exceed the limits of responsible public discourse.

Like every other public controversy discussed in this article, any determination of legal responsibility belongs exclusively to the courts and competent authorities.

A Larger Question Than Social Media

The debates surrounding these personalities reveal something much bigger than individual creators.

They reflect a rapidly changing society where influence is increasingly measured online rather than through traditional institutions.

Many Tunisians continue to ask difficult questions.

Why do controversies involving highly visible online personalities sometimes appear to unfold differently from those involving ordinary citizens?

Are complaints examined according to the same standards?

Are investigations initiated consistently whenever the law requires them?

Does digital influence affect how institutions are perceived to respond?

These questions are not accusations.

They are questions about public confidence.

Law 54 and the Debate Over Digital Freedom

No discussion about Tunisia's digital environment can ignore Law 54, one of the country's most debated pieces of legislation concerning online speech.

Supporters argue that regulation is necessary to combat online abuse, misinformation, harassment, and cybercrime.

Critics maintain that enforcement must remain transparent, proportionate, and consistent to preserve public confidence and avoid any perception that different standards exist for different people.

Whether one supports or opposes the legislation, the principle at the heart of the debate remains the same:

If the law exists, it should be applied equally.

The State Must Respond Through Institutions

President Kais Saied has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the rule of law and the authority of the State.

Yet authority is measured not only by the ability to enforce laws.

It is measured by the consistency with which those laws are applied.

Citizens want reassurance that institutions act impartially.

That complaints are examined without regard to popularity.

That investigations are conducted when legally justified.

That online fame neither grants protection nor invites selective treatment.

A strong state does not shield individuals because they are influential.

Nor does it pursue individuals because they are unpopular.

Its legitimacy rests on applying the same legal standards to everyone.

The Digital Society Tunisia Must Build

The debate surrounding TikTok creators will not end with any single personality.

New influencers will emerge.

New controversies will arise.

Digital platforms will continue to reshape public life.

The real question is not about one streamer.

It is about the kind of digital society Tunisia wishes to build.

One where popularity becomes a form of privilege.

Or one where rights, responsibilities, and accountability apply equally to every citizen.

Public trust depends upon four principles:

• Freedom of expression.
• Individual responsibility.
• Transparent institutions.
• Equality before the law.

None can endure without the others.

An Open Question to Tunisia's Leadership

This discussion is not solely about Colombi, Marven, Dado, El Khal, or any other online personality.

It concerns every Tunisian citizen.

Because the principle remains universal.

If an ordinary citizen can be held accountable under the law, should the same principle apply to individuals followed by millions?

The answer will shape far more than Tunisia's digital future.

It will shape public confidence in the institutions that uphold the rule of law.

A state is not strong because people fear it.

A state is strong because people trust it.

Trust is earned when justice is seen to be impartial.

No one should stand above the law.

No one should receive special protection because of popularity.

In the digital age, equality before the law remains the foundation upon which every democratic society ultimately depends.