Cameroon’s 2024 Privacy Law: Heavy Fines Envisaged

The session brought together legal experts, civil society, media, and State actors (including ANTIC, MIN­ POSTEL, and the National Communi­ cation Council) to evaluate the prac­ tical application of Cameroon’s digital rights laws. Dr. Ngala Des­ mond Ngala, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Civic Watch Cameroon, highlighted the di­ gital paradox created by citizens. These routinely feed detailed iden­ tities into generative Artificial Intel­ ligence, AI models, biometrics appli­ cations, while unannounced surveillance cameras collect perso­ nal information without considering the privacy risks. Beyond AI, every­ day habits - such as unmanaged vi­ sitor logs and non-consensual online media sharing - expose citizens to continuous data harvesting without clear retention timelines, Dr Ngala warned. Reaffirming the campaign's goals, Giyo Ndzi, Communications Officer for Paradigm Initiative, recal­ led that Paradigm Initiative tracks di­ gital rights and inclusion metrics across the continent through its an­ nual LONDA report. Barrister Balbine Manga, an expert in cyber legislation and internet go­ vernance, unpacked Cameroon’s 75- article 2024 Law on Personal Data Protection. While building on 2010 texts governing cybercrime and electronic communications, this new framework aims to establis...