Online safety & content laws in Angola (2026)

Legal framework

Law No. 38/20 (Penal Code, cybercrime chapter), Law No. 7/17 (Protection of Networks and Information Systems), National Security Law (August 2024), ERCA media regulator; Draft Cybersecurity Law and Draft Law on Dissemination of False Information on the Internet advancing through parliament (2025-2026)

Key points: internet & online safety in Angola

1. 01Penal Code cybercrime provisions

   Law No. 38/20 (Penal Code, 2020) contains a dedicated cybercrime chapter covering illicit access, data manipulation, interception, system sabotage, digital fraud, and illicit copying of software, forming the primary criminal-law basis for Angola's online-conduct rules.

   cms.law internews.org

2. 02Network and Information Systems Law (Law 7/17)

   Law No. 7/17 (2017) requires intermediary service providers targeting Angola to obtain prior authorisation and registration, and empowers authorities to prohibit services that threaten public order, human dignity, child protection, or that engage in hate speech or illegal activities.

   internews.org cms.law

3. 03Draft Cybersecurity Law advancing (2025-2026)

   Angola's parliament approved the draft Cybersecurity Law in a first reading in 2025. It would establish a National Cybersecurity Centre (CNC) with broad regulatory, supervisory, inspection, and sanctioning powers; critics including Maka Angola have characterised it as a tool for authoritarian consolidation.

   aman-alliance.org makaangola.org furtherafrica.com

4. 04Draft 'Fake News' Law, up to 10 years imprisonment

   A Draft Law on the Dissemination of False Information on the Internet (publicly consulted March-April 2025, cabinet-approved) would impose prison sentences of up to 10 years and fines up to 3 billion Kwanza on individuals and platforms; the CPJ, IPI, and 37+ press-freedom organisations urged Angola to amend it citing vague language and disproportionate penalties threatening press freedom.

   cpj.org ipi.media plataformamedia.com

5. 05National Security Law, extrajudicial telecom restrictions (2024)

   President Lourenço signed the National Security Law in August 2024, permitting government interference with media and telecommunications services, including internet services, without court approval in broadly defined 'exceptional circumstances', and granting expanded surveillance powers to authorities.

   freedomhouse.org

6. 06ERCA regulator, extrajudicial website suspension powers

   The Angolan Regulatory Body for Social Communication (ERCA), established under the 2017 Social Communication Legislative Package, can suspend or ban websites for failing its journalism standards without judicial oversight, giving the executive informal leverage over online content; Freedom House rated Angola 'Partly Free' at 60/100 in its Freedom on the Net 2025 report.

   freedomhouse.org internews.org

Timeline of decisions

1. 1 Apr 2025Guidance
   Public Consultation Launched on Draft Law Against Dissemination of False Information on the Internet

   The Ministry of Telecommunications opened a public consultation on a draft law proposing up to 10 years' imprisonment and fines of up to 3 billion kwanza for online 'false information', along with platform liability rules. The CPJ and 37 partner organisations sent a joint letter urging Angola to substantially amend the bill, citing its sweeping scope and potential weaponisation against journalism.

   Further Africa

2. 1 Nov 2024Enforcement
   Online News Editor Sentenced to Three Years for Defamation

   Daniel Frederico Pensador, editor of the digital news portal Repórter Angola, was convicted on criminal defamation charges and sentenced to three years in prison, the first imprisonment of a digital journalist under Angola's defamation provisions. The case set a chilling-effect precedent for online commentary and independent digital media.

   Human Rights Watch World Report 2025

3. 29 Aug 2024Law
   President Signs National Security Law Enabling Internet and Telecom Disruption

   President João Lourenço signed the National Security Law, whose Article 36 authorises security forces to disrupt telecommunications services, including the internet, under unspecified 'exceptional circumstances' without a court order. Human rights groups and the CPJ condemned the law as incompatible with international standards on freedom of expression and media independence.

   Human Rights Watch

4. 1 Jan 2017Law · official
   Social Communication Legislative Package Enacted; ERCA Established with Powers to Ban Websites

   President dos Santos enacted a package of media laws, Press Law, Television Law, Broadcast Law, and a Journalists' Code, and created the Angolan Regulatory Body for Social Communication (ERCA). Critically, ERCA was granted authority to investigate online content producers without judicial oversight and to suspend or ban websites that do not meet its 'good journalism' standards, introducing the first formal mechanism for state-ordered website blocking.

   ERCA – Diário da República (Official Gazette)

Sources

1. 1.freedomhouse.org/country/angola/freedom-net/2025
2. 2.cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-data-protection-and-cyber-se
3. 3.furtherafrica.com/2025/04/22/angola-launches-public-consultation-on-fake-news-and-cyber
4. 4.cpj.org/2025/10/cpj-partners-urge-angola-to-amend-draft-law-on-false-informat
5. 5.ipi.media/ipi-partners-sign-joint-letter-urging-angola-to-reconsider-proposed-l
6. 6.aman-alliance.org/Home/ContentDetail/99681
7. 7.makaangola.org/2026/01/cybersecurity-angolas-latest-tool-of-authoritarian-consolidat
8. 8.internews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ARISA-IEA-CHAPTER-3-Angola.pdf
9. 9.plataformamedia.com/en/2025/04/15/angolan-government-proposes-jail-of-up-to-10-years-for-