Emily first appeared in court on April 15, 2016 on charges of "insulting" the country's president, John Magufuli, allegedly contrary to Section 16 of Tanzania's Cybercrime Act No. 14 of 2015, which says: 
Emily alisimama mbele ya mahakama kwa mara ya kwanza mnamo Aprili 15, 2016 kujibu mashtaka y 'kumtukana' rais wa nchi, John Magufuli, ikidaiwa kuwa alikwenda kinyume na Ibara ya 16 ya Sheria ya Makosa ya Jinai ya Tanzania Na. 14 ya 2015, inayosema: