Algeria’s Digital Economy Law: What Tech Companies and Startups Need to Know

Algeria’s digital regulatory environment is evolving rapidly — and for founders, CTOs, and legal teams, understanding the actual text of the laws matters more than general summaries. Algeria’s core digital legal framework rests on four primary instruments published in the Journal Officiel: e-commerce law (18-05), data protection law (18-07), electronic signature law (15-04), and their 2025 amendments — plus a January 2026 presidential decree that adds cybersecurity obligations for public-sector buyers.

E-Commerce Law 18-05: What It Actually Says

Law 18-05 (May 2018) establishes mandatory information obligations for e-commerce providers: contract terms, returns processes, complaint handling, and transaction formation rules. Two critical points that are frequently misrepresented:

• The “7-day return” rule is not universal: Law 18-05 does not establish a blanket 7-day return window. Return timelines in the law are linked to specific non-compliance situations — delivery deadlines missed or non-conforming goods — where the consumer re-ships within a maximum of four working days. Any e-commerce operator claiming general 7-day returns as a statutory right is misreading the text.
• Payments must use regulated rails: The law explicitly states that electronic payment must be conducted through dedicated platforms established and operated exclusively by banks licensed by the Bank of Algeria and by Algeria Post, subject to central-bank security and interoperability controls. This is why international gateways like Stripe and PayPal remain legally complex to integrate without explicit authorization — not a technical limitation, but a legal architecture decision.

Data Protection: Law 18-07 and the 2025 Amendment

Law 18-07 (June 2018) is Algeria’s primary data protection framework, modeled partly on GDPR. Its cross-border transfer rules are explicit and strict: personal data cannot be transferred to a foreign state without authorization from the ANPDP (national data protection authority), and only where the recipient state ensures an adequate level of protection. Transfers that could harm public security or vital interests are prohibited regardless of authorization.

The 2025 amendment — Law 25-11 (July 2025) — significantly strengthened the framework. Key additions include:

• Expanded definitions covering biometric data and profiling
• A formal “délégué à la protection des données” (DPO-style) role with mandatory record-keeping
• Regional audit and control poles for the national authority
• Processing log requirements applicable to third-party processors

For startups using any foreign-hosted SaaS tool — CRMs, analytics platforms, customer support tools — these obligations are not theoretical. Every third-party processor that touches Algerian personal data must be assessed against this framework.

Electronic Signature: Law 15-04

Law 15-04 (February 2015) establishes that a qualified electronic signature is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature, and that no electronic signature can be denied legal effect solely because it is in electronic form. The law creates a national electronic certification authority under the Prime Minister’s supervision, with defined certification trust structures. Contrary to some simplifications, this framework is regulated by a national certification authority — not ARPCE (the telecoms regulator).

The Startup Label and Fiscal Architecture

Algeria’s Startup Label system, administered by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, is the primary gateway to state support. Labeled startups receive:

• Access to the Algérie Télécom fund: A 1.5 billion dinar ($11M USD) vehicle specifically for AI, cybersecurity, and robotics startups
• Tax holidays: Full tax exemptions for labeled firms during the 2026–2028 period
• Stock exchange incentives: A three-year fee waiver on the Algiers Stock Exchange to encourage IPO readiness
• Procurement preference: Favored status in public tenders under the revised procurement law

What’s Coming: The Digital Law

The High Commission for Digitalization (HCN) is elaborating a comprehensive “Digital Law” as part of the 2025–2030 strategy. The law is expected to unify fragmented digital regulations, formalize platform business recognition, and provide a clearer framework for algorithmic systems and digital services. Timeline: passage expected by 2026–2027. Startups that are already compliant with existing obligations will have a structural advantage when the framework arrives.

Sources

• Journal Officiel — Law 18-05 (E-Commerce, May 2018)
• Journal Officiel — Law 18-07 (Data Protection, June 2018)
• Journal Officiel — Law 15-04 (Electronic Signature, 2015)
• Journal Officiel — Law 25-11 (Data Protection Amendment, 2025)
• Journal Officiel — Décret présidentiel n° 26-07 (Cybersecurity in Public Institutions)
• Digital Algeria 2030 — National Strategy Document (HCN)
• Algerian Startup Fund — Official Site