African Ministers Adopt Declaration on Fair, Safe, and Responsible Digital Platforms
African ministers in charge of Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Digital Economy adopted the "Alger Declaration on Fair, Safe, and Responsible Digital Platforms in Africa" on December 7, 2025, in Algiers. This declaration, which is to be submitted to the African Union for political adoption in early 2026, aims to establish a common continental regulatory framework for global digital giants and OTT (online communication and content) platforms.
A Collective Voice Against Digital Giants
The Alger Declaration marks a collective willingness to speak with one voice against digital giants (social media, messaging, streaming platforms, and artificial intelligence services) to strengthen the continent's influence in global digital governance. Currently, these actors operate according to the laws of their countries of origin, limiting African countries' ability to obtain economic benefits and protect their users.
Concrete Commitments for Africa
The declaration sets out several practical and ambitious guidelines:
- Unified Negotiation with Global Platforms: African states commit to coordinating their requirements and negotiations with digital platforms to avoid a fragmented approach by country. This approach aims to strengthen the continent's collective negotiating power.
- Local Economic Contribution: Global platforms operating in Africa would be encouraged - or even forced in the future - to contribute to the financing of local infrastructure, support the development of digital talent, and reinvest a significant portion of their revenue on the continent. This should enable African economies to better capture the benefits generated by their digital market.
- Data Protection and Digital Sovereignty: A strengthened mechanism for protecting personal data is planned to ensure that African citizens' data is managed transparently and securely, with a focus on localizing data on the continent.
- Standards for Artificial Intelligence: "Accountability" standards for the use of artificial intelligence are included in the text. The goal is to reduce the risks of algorithmic discrimination, abusive surveillance, and ensure transparency in automated systems.
- Content Regulation: The Declaration calls for control over content circulating on platforms, particularly to combat disinformation and hate speech, while respecting freedom of expression.
A Framework Inspired by International Models
The text is part of a broader dynamic of African strategies for digital transformation (2020-2030). It draws inspiration from international frameworks such as the European Digital Services Act (DSA), while adapting its principles to the African reality, particularly in terms of local economic contribution and data protection.
