Laos has adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.

Laos has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures. Yet, in 2020, Lao PDR enacted the Law on Electronic Signature Activities, which provided a legal framework for the management and the use of electronic signatures.

The Law on Electronic Data Protection specifies that the delivery or transfer of data must be performed as follows:
- with the consent of the data subject and guarantee that the transferee can protect such data;
- with the encryption of important information, such as financial, accounting, and investment data and with the electronic certificate issued by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication (Art. 25);
- without forging the source of data sent or transferred;
- that the transfer must be in accordance with the agreement of the transferee and transferor; and
- that the transfer must be stopped upon refusal by the transferee.
The transfer of private data outside of Lao PDR is subject to the express consent of the data subject and compliance with the law (Art. 17).

Laos has not joined any agreement with binding commitments to open transfers of data across borders.

In May 2017, the National Assembly of the Lao PDR enacted the Law on Electronic Data Protection No. 25/NA. In August 2018, to clarify the requirements under the Law on Electronic Data Protection, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued the Guidelines on the Implementation of the Law on Electronic Data Protection No. 2126/MoPTC. The E-Data Protection Guidelines provide greater clarity on the classification of electronic data, the compliance obligations of data managers, and rules associated with regulated data protection activities. These Guidelines cover (i) data collection; (ii) electronic data inspection; (iii) saving/storing of electronic data; (iv) maintaining electronic data; (v) using and disseminating electronic data; (vi) transmission and transfer of electronic data; (vii) access to electronic data; (viii) amending and updating electronic data; and (ix) deletion of electronic data.
The comprehensive regulatory framework on data privacy focuses on data in its digital form – electronic data – and none other.

The Law on Electronic Data Protection (Arts. 29 and 30) states that the data controller has the right and obligation to establish an internal department and officer to supervise the protection of the data. Art. 46 also mandates that the content of the inspection of electronic data protection should include the responsibilities, behaviour, and working methodologies of Electronic Data Protection officers.

The Law on Electronic Transactions establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries for copyright infringements. According to Art. 34 of the law, an intermediary is not liable:
- to monitor any information contained in a data message or electronic record that it handles for a user;
- for a data message or electronic record that it handles for a user if an intermediary is not an originator;
- for a data message or electronic record for which an intermediary has no actual knowledge that (the information) gives rise to liability;
- for background on a data message for which an intermediary has no actual knowledge.

The Law on Electronic Transactions establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries beyond copyright infringement. According to the law, an intermediary is not liable (i) to monitor any information contained in a data message or electronic record that it handles for a user; (ii) for a data message or electronic record that it handles for a user if an intermediary is not an originator; (iii) for a data message or electronic record for which an intermediary has no actual knowledge that (the information) gives rise to liability; (iv) for background on a data message for which an intermediary has no actual knowledge.

According to Art. 8 of the Decree on Internet Information Management No. 327/GOV, individuals are required to register on social media sites with their full names and current addresses, making it difficult for people in Lao PDR to share news articles or other information anonymously.

According to the January 30, 2023 notice issued by the Office of the Ministry of Technology and Communications (MTC) concerning the Agreement on the Management of Telecommunications and ICT Equipment (No. 3583/KTS), from October 1, 2023, mobile phone users are required to register their SIM cards. This registration process involves submitting photographic copies of various identification documents, including ID cards, driver’s licenses, family registration books, and resident certificates.

It has been reported that, following the signing of the Law on Electronic Transaction, internet service providers can face penalties for permitting internet users to publish false information about the government or information meant to discredit it. According to Art. 10, telecommunications and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are required to monitor information disseminated through their services for censorship of criticism of the Lao PDR government and other political content. In addition, according to Art. 18, the telecommunications and communications sector has the responsibility to supervise and inspect the dissemination of information by Internet service users, and orders should be issued to ISPs to restrict access to information, temporarily or permanently suspend the connection of those who violate this decree or other related regulations and laws. Moreover, according to Art. 7 of the law, website owners or managers have the responsibility to thoroughly check the content and information before allowing others to disseminate it through their website, despite the fact that, according to the Lao Electronic Transactions Law, intermediaries are specifically not responsible "for monitoring the information contained in a data message or electronic record they handle for a user".

According to Art. 15 of the Law on Consumer Protection, individuals, legal entities, and organisations intending to advertise goods and services must seek approval from the information and culture sector in accordance with laws and regulations.

In 2020, Lao PDR issued notices to online media to register with the government or be prohibited from publishing information and news on social media platforms like Facebook. It is reported that the registration enables the government to enforce the 2015 Law on Prevention and Combating Cyber Crime, which categorises the following as offences causing damage via online social media: i) Posting data and information containing aspects of persuading people to resist the government or separate national solidarity; ii) posting data and information destroying national security, peace, the order in society, national culture and fine tradition of the nation; iii) posting data and information containing blaspheming and using impolite words through the computer system.

It is reported that, according to the Decision on Approval to Operate Internet Data Center, all Internet data centres are required to have a licence to operate.

According to Art. 18 of the Law on Telecommunications, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications manages the importation of hi-technology telecommunication equipment. The regulation of the law states that the import of some types of telecommunication equipment should be subject to further control by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. The imported telephone sets and computers should also have a menu and be able to use content in the Lao language. It is reported that since 2022, there has been a new telecom law. However, the text is not available online.