A proposed Angolan law criminalising the spread of false information online—with penalties of up to ten years in prison—has drawn sharp condemnation from civil society leaders, who warn it poses a grave threat to freedom of expression and press freedom.
Presented as a tool to combat disinformation, the draft legislation has been criticised for its vague language and potential use as a political weapon.
Critics argue that the law, if enacted, would allow authorities to arbitrarily punish dissent and silence government critics on digital platforms.
Speaking to DW Africa, renowned journalist and anti-corruption activist Rafael Marques, founder of the investigative platform Maka Angola, described the bill as a “declaration of war” against social media users and independent voices in the country.
“With this proposed law, the Angolan government is essentially declaring war on social media users, where it faces the harshest criticism of its regime,” Marques said.
“It’s about creating a climate of fear that curtails citizens’ use of social networks to share political opinions.”
He warned that even forwarding messages that criticize the government could be considered a criminal act.
“If Mama Nhanga passes along a message that speaks ill of the President, it becomes a crime.
Even if she can’t read, she could be arrested for simply sharing something the government doesn’t like—just because someone in power claims it’s false information. It’s all incredibly vague and absurd.”
When asked who would determine what constitutes fake news, Marques pointed to the risk of arbitrary enforcement.
“Take Venâncio Mondlane, a Mozambican activist.
If his protests in Mozambique are seen as having a negative impact in Angola, this law could be used to prosecute him here.
That’s how ridiculous this proposal is.”
Marques also expressed concern for journalists operating under the looming threat of severe prison terms.
“This is a regime in deep decline, clinging to power not through good governance but through fear.
Corruption and mismanagement have eroded even the government’s own ability to enforce repression, so now it turns to intimidation.”
According to Marques, the government’s threats to block platforms like Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook only highlight its desperation to control public discourse. He acknowledged the importance of addressing misinformation but stressed that transparency and access to accurate information must begin with state-run media.
“We need to fight disinformation, and no one is against that.
But one of the most effective ways to do it in Angola is to ensure people have access to truthful information—starting with state media, which employs the majority of journalists in this country.
We have more than 3,000 media professionals working for the government.
And what do they produce?
Propaganda for President Lourenço and the MPLA, the ruling party for the past 50 years.
Source: club-k
