Mali does not have a legal framework that applies consumer protection to online transactions. According to Art. 2 of Law No. 2015-036 on Consumer Protection, the law does not include the protection of consumers for goods and services online.

Mali has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Mali has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.

Law No. 2016-012/ of May 6, 2016, relating to electronic transactions, exchanges, and services, establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries for copyright infringements. According to Art. 78 of the Law, when offering a service that involves transmitting information via a communication network or facilitating access to it, the service provider bears no responsibility for the transmitted data. This exemption applies as long as the provider meets specific criteria: they are not the source of the transmission, do not choose the recipient of the information, and do not select or modify the content being transmitted. The transmission and access provision activities referred to in the first paragraph of this article include the automatic, intermediate and transient storage of the information transmitted, provided that this storage is used exclusively for the execution of the transmission on the communication network and that its duration does not exceed the time reasonably necessary for the transmission.

Law No. 2016-012/ of May 6, 2016, relating to electronic transactions, exchanges, and services, establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries beyond copyright infringements. According to Art. 78 of the Law, when offering a service that involves transmitting information via a communication network or facilitating access to it, the service provider bears no responsibility for the transmitted data. This exemption applies as long as the provider meets specific criteria: they are not the source of the transmission, do not choose the recipient of the information, and do not select or modify the content being transmitted. The transmission and access provision activities referred to in the first paragraph of this article include the automatic, intermediate and transient storage of the information transmitted, provided that this storage is used exclusively for the execution of the transmission on the communication network and that its duration does not exceed the time reasonably necessary for the transmission.

The operators of telecommunications networks open to the public and telecommunications/ICT service providers are required at the time of subscription to proceed with the identification of subscribers under (Art. 9) of Ordinance No. 11-023/P-RM of 28 September 2011 relating to telecommunications and information and communication technologies.

The indicator "7.2.4 - Government Internet shut down in practice" of the V-Dem Dataset, which measures whether the government has the technical capacity to actively make internet service cease, thus interrupting domestic access to the internet or whether the government has decided to do so, has a score of 2 in Mali for the year 2024. This corresponds to "The government shut down domestic access to the Internet several times this year."

In March 2024, Mali’s military government reportedly imposed a nationwide ban on the import and sale of Starlink satellite internet kits, citing concerns that insurgent groups were misusing the technology in northern and eastern regions. After seven months, in October 2024, the government officially lifted the suspension, reauthorising sales and imports under a six-month trial period. This provisional reinstatement permits regulators, ISPs, and licensed operators to formulate a regulatory framework, which includes user and device registration, aimed at mitigating security risks while renewing access to the service

According to Art. 63 of Ordinance No. 11-023/P-RM, telecom equipment intended to be connected to a telecommunications network open to the public must undergo prior approval to ensure compliance with the essential requirements and to verify conformity with the technical standards and specifications in force in Mali. Approval is required in all cases for radio installations, whether or not they are intended for such a network, and the Authority establishes the criteria and admission procedure for assessing the technical qualifications of persons responsible for installing, commissioning, and maintaining terminal equipment.

Art. 86 of Ordinance No. 11-023/P-RM establishes penalties for the export or import of means of cryptology without authorisation, with a penalty of imprisonment of six months to one year and a fine of 10,000,000 CFA francs (USD 16,300 approx) to 20,000,000 CFA francs (USD 32,700 approx). In addition, the court may prohibit the offender from applying for authorisation for a maximum of two years and order the confiscation of the cryptology means.

Mali has not appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.

It is reported that the Malian Authority for the Regulation of Telecommunications and Posts (AMRTP), the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.

According to Art. 11 of Law No. 2013-015, Mali authorises the transfer of personal data to a foreign State when:
- The receiving State ensures a sufficient level of protection of individuals, indicated by the Authority in charge of the protection of personal data, due to its domestic legislation or commitments made at the international level and that these measures are effectively implemented.
- By decision of the Authority in charge of the protection of personal data, when the transfer and processing by the recipient of the personal data ensures a sufficient level of protection of privacy, as well as of the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, in particular, due to the contractual clauses or internal rules to which it is subject.

Mali has not joined any free trade agreement committing to open cross-border data flow transfers.

Law No. 2013/015 provides a comprehensive regime of data protection in Mali. The Law addresses matters such as data subject rights, data transfers, legal bases for processing, and the establishment of the Malian Data Protection Authority (APDP).