Algeria’s proposed legislation on personal data protection has sparked debate and concern among rights groups and digital freedom advocates, with critics questioning whether the draft law prioritizes European compliance over genuine civil liberties.
Unveiled this week by the Ministry of Justice, the draft law is billed as a step toward aligning Algeria’s legal framework with European Union standards—specifically to “facilitate exchanges with European judicial institutions, notably Eurojust.”
While authorities present it as a move toward digital modernization and legal harmonization, many observers view the reform as externally motivated.
Algeria’s approach to cybersecurity and data governance has long been criticized for its opacity. Surveillance infrastructure remains heavily centralized under the Ministry of the Interior, and national security laws allow for widespread communication interception without meaningful judicial review.
In this context, the government’s pledge to uphold “respect for citizens’ privacy” has drawn skepticism.
“Privacy protections must be more than cosmetic,” a local digital rights activist told El Watan. “Without independence and enforcement power, any new authority will be largely symbolic.”
Amnesty International and other NGOs have also raised alarms over the lack of consultation with civil society during the drafting process. According to leaked details reported by El Watan, the proposed regulatory authority would lack both autonomous sanctioning power and institutional independence. Its role, critics warn, would be purely advisory, with no mandate to challenge state overreach or compel compliance from security agencies.
The timing of the bill has also raised eyebrows. It comes amid growing reports of digital surveillance targeting journalists, activists, and political opponents—often using imported software tools. For some, this casts doubt on the law’s real intent: that it may be designed more to facilitate bilateral cooperation with European institutions than to protect the rights of Algerian citizens.
Without transparent parliamentary debate or a public release of the full draft, many fear the law could reinforce, rather than restrain, the existing surveillance regime. As Algeria seeks closer ties with Europe, civil liberties advocates insist that meaningful reform must start at home—with guarantees of independence, accountability, and public trust.
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