African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Resolution on developing Guidelines to assist States monitor technology companies in respect of their duty to maintain information integrity through independent fact checking

On 11 March 2025, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) adopted Resolution ACHPR/Res.630 (LXXXII) 2025 on the development of guidelines to assist states in monitoring technology companies. The resolution requires the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa to develop these guidelines in collaboration with stakeholders such as civil society, regulatory bodies, and technology companies. The aim is to enable States to effectively moni...

Official materialContent ModerationOfficial source · achpr.au.int ↗

03 DEC 2024 · Law / Act

Data localisation requirement in Law No. 23-20 on the Audiovisual Activity

On 3 December 2024, Law No. 23-20 on the Audiovisual Activity entered into force. Article 85 established a 12-month transitional period from the law's publication date (2 December 2023), during which existing audiovisual and online communication services were required to align their operations with the law. Article 15 requires that services of audiovisual communication online must have their hosting “exclusively and physically domiciled” with Algeria's public broadcasting organisation, using ...

Primary legal sourceNational StrategyOfficial source · natlex.ilo.org ↗

21 MAY 2024 · Policy / Guidance

African Union Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy

On 21 May 2024, the African Union Executive Council adopted the Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy. This framework establishes a set of guidelines designed to ensure the protection of children's rights within the digital sphere throughout the African continent. The policy incorporates a 4Cs model to categorise online risks, encompassing content, contact, conduct, and consumer risks. It establishes guiding principles that prioritise child rights, digital safety, and empowerment. The po...

Official materialContent ModerationOfficial source · au.int ↗

12 MAR 2024 · Law / Act

Content moderation regulation in Law No. 23-20 on the Audiovisual Activity

On 3 December 2024, Law No. 23-20 on the Audiovisual Activity entered into force. Article 85 established a 12-month transitional period from the law's publication date (2 December 2023), during which existing audiovisual and online communication services were required to align their operations with the law. Article 32 obligates audiovisual services to abstain from broadcasting content that promotes violence, terrorism, racial discrimination, or false information, while Article 69 extends the ...

Primary legal sourceContent ModerationOfficial source · natlex.ilo.org ↗

04 MAR 2024 · Other

China-African Union cooperation on Artificial Intelligence

On 3 April 2024, China and the African Union adopted a joint statement to increase their cooperation in the area of artificial intelligence (AI) research and development. The statement was adopted at the China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum in China, which focussed on the cooperation between the African Union and China on data protection regulation within the domain of AI development. This statement underscores the commitment of both parties to enhance policy dialogue, prom...

Official materialNational StrategyOfficial source · cac.gov.cn ↗

06 FEB 2024 · Other

Pall Mall Process on Tackling the Proliferation and Irresponsible Use of Commercial Cyber Intrusion Capabilities

On 6 February 2024, a collaborative statement involving multiple countries and endorsed by technological companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Meta was released. This joint declaration underscored the imperative for enhanced measures to address the malicious exploitation of cyber espionage tools. Signed by 35 nations during a conference hosted by Britain and France, the statement aimed to counter the escalating prevalence and misuse of spyware, which is employed for listening to phone conv...

Official materialNational StrategyOfficial source · diplomatie.gouv.fr ↗

13 SEP 2023 · Other

AI for Sustainable Youth Development in Africa

On 13 September 2023, the African Union adopted a policy brief to promote Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance under the Make Africa Digital (MAD) campaign. It underscores the need for investment in infrastructure, inclusive legislation, public-private partnerships, and digital education to enhance AI adoption across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, trade, and entrepreneurship. The brief identifies challenges such as low internet penetration, lack of digital skills, and ...

Official materialNational StrategyOfficial source · au.int ↗

06 AUG 2023 · International Agreement

Cybersecurity regulation in African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection

On 8 June 2024, the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection entered into force. The Convention emphasises the importance of developing national cybersecurity policies and strategies to address the evolving threats in the digital landscape. It mandates the implementation of legal measures to criminalise cyber offences such as unauthorised access to computer systems, data breaches, and cyber-enabled fraud. Additionally, the Convention encourages international coo...

Primary legal sourceNational StrategyOfficial source · au.int ↗

06 AUG 2023 · International Agreement

Data protection authority governance in African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection

On 8 June 2024, the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection entered into force. The Convention mandates the establishment of national data protection authorities to govern and enforce data protection regulations across its member states. These authorities are tasked with overseeing compliance with data protection laws, handling complaints, conducting audits, and imposing sanctions when necessary. The Convention emphasises the independence and impartiality of th...

Primary legal sourceNational StrategyOfficial source · au.int ↗

03 FEB 2022 · Standard / Framework

Data protection regulation guidance in African Union Data Policy Framework

On 3 February 2022, the African Union adopted a declaration establishing a continental framework for data protection regulation. The objective of this framework is to achieve harmonisation of data governance across the member states of the African Union. The framework delineates principles for data classification, protection, and the empowerment of Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) to enforce compliance. In particular, the declaration encourages data controllers and processors to obtain info...

Official materialNational StrategyOfficial source · au.int ↗