TOGO
Since February 1998, last amended in May 2004
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Self-certification for product safety
Law No. 98-005 on Telecommunications as amended by Law No. 2004-011 (Loi No. 98-005 du 11 février 1998 sur les télécommunications (telle que modifiée par la loi No. 2004-011 du 3 mai 2004))
Type approval procedures in Togo are regulated by the Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques et des postes (ARCEP). It is reported that the conformity requirements are similar to those of the European Union. The homologation process in Togo does not require local laboratory testing or contact with local representatives. The framework governing the approval of telecommunications equipment is outlined in the Telecommunications Law, with Art. 20 granting the Regulatory Authority the power to establish procedures for equipment approval, designate national and international laboratories, and define conditions for recognising technical standards and specifications.
Coverage Telecom equipment
TOGO
Since May 2015
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Restrictions on online payments
Instruction No. 008-05-2015 defining the terms and conditions for the exercise of electronic money issuer activities in the WAMU area (Instruction No. 008-05-2015 définissant les conditions et modalités d'exercice des activités d’émetteurs de monnaie électronique dans l'espace UMOA)
According to Art. 31 of Instruction No. 008-05-2015, which establishes the conditions and modalities for carrying out the activities of electronic money issuers in the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) area, the assets in electronic money held by the same identified client with an issuing institution cannot exceed two million FCFA (approx. 3500 USD), unless expressly authorised by the Central Bank.
Coverage Electronic payments
TOGO
Reported in 2022, last reported in 2023
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
De minimis threshold
It is reported that the de minimis threshold, that is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties, is USD 400, above the 200 USD threshold recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Coverage Horizontal
TOGO
Since June 2017
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Law No. 2017-07 of 22 June 2017 on Electronic Transactions (Loi No. 2017‐07 du 22 juin 2017 relative aux transactions électroniques)
The law Electronic Transactions Act No. 2017-07 provides a comprehensive framework for consumer protection that also applies to online transactions.
Coverage Horizontal
TOGO
Since December 2012, last amended in February 2013
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Requirement to allow the government to access personal data collected
Law No. 2012-018 of 17 December 2012 on electronic communications, amended by Law No. 2013-003 of 19 February 2013 (Loi No. 2012-018 du 17 décembre 2012 sur les communications électroniques, modifiée par la Loi No. 2013-003 du 19 février 2013)
According to Art. 95 of Togo’s 2012 Electronic Communication Law, cryptology services providers are required to keep for one year content and data allowing the identification of anyone who has used their services and providing the technical means that enable the identification of those users. The service providers are required to avail of this data, on request, to the investigating judge, the Prime Minister, the Minister for Economy and Finance, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Security.
Coverage Horizontal
TOGO
Since June 2017
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Law No. 2017-07 of 22 June 2017 on Electronic Transactions (Loi No. 2017‐07 du 22 juin 2017 relative aux transactions électroniques)
Law No. 2017-07 of June 22, 2017 on Electronic Transactions establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries for copyright infringements. According to Arts. 55 and 56 of the law, electronic communication operators are subject to civil or criminal liability for the content stored or transmitted on their networks only in cases where:
- they are at the origin of the disputed request for transmission;
- they select the receipt of the transmission;
- they select or modify the content being transmitted;
- they did not promptly remove or block access to the illegal content upon becoming aware of it or upon receiving a served judicial order.
- they are at the origin of the disputed request for transmission;
- they select the receipt of the transmission;
- they select or modify the content being transmitted;
- they did not promptly remove or block access to the illegal content upon becoming aware of it or upon receiving a served judicial order.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
TOGO
Since June 2017
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Law No. 2017-07 of 22 June 2017 on Electronic Transactions (Loi No. 2017‐07 du 22 juin 2017 relative aux transactions électroniques)
Law No. 2017-07 of June 22, 2017 on Electronic Transactions establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries for copyright infringements. According to Arts. 55 and 56 of the law, electronic communication operators are subject to civil or criminal liability for the content stored or transmitted on their networks only in cases where:
- they are at the origin of the disputed request for transmission;
- they select the receipt of the transmission;
- they select or modify the content being transmitted;
- they did not promptly remove or block access to the illegal content upon becoming aware of it or upon receiving a served judicial order.
- they are at the origin of the disputed request for transmission;
- they select the receipt of the transmission;
- they select or modify the content being transmitted;
- they did not promptly remove or block access to the illegal content upon becoming aware of it or upon receiving a served judicial order.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
TOGO
Reported in 2021, last reported in 2023
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator User identity requirement
Mandatory SIM card registration
In July 2021, a SIM card registration and limitation of subscriptions per individual and network campaign was launched by the telecommunications regulatory authority ARCEP, supported by leading telecom operators Moov Africa Togo and TogoCom. The SIM registration requirements include a national identity card or passport and the collection of biometric and demographic data.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
Sources
- https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/sim-card-registration-laws/#Type_of_ID_required_by_country
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220925213630/https://www.africafex.org/digital-rights/togo-struggles-with-a-digital-id-while-actively-surveilling-citizens
- https://web.archive.org/web/20211023213944/https://www.togofirst.com/en/telecom/1205-7829-government-sets-a-cap-on-the-number-of-active-sim-cards-per-user-per-operator
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230914064845/https://arcep.tg/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210429_MENTD_Arrete_007_Portant-limitation-du-nombre-de-cartes-SIM-par-abonne-aux-services-de-communications-el...
- Show more...
TOGO
Reported in 2025
Pillar Content access |
Indicator Presence of Internet shutdowns
Presence of Internet shutdowns
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 Togo for the year 2024. This corresponds to "The government shut down domestic access to the Internet several times this year."
Coverage Horizontal
TOGO
Since October 2019
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Framework for data protection
Law No. 2019-014 Relating to the Protection of Personal Data (Loi No. 2019-014 Relative à la Protection des Données à Caractère Personnel)
The Law No. 2019-014 on the protection of personal data provides a comprehensive regime of data protection in Togo. Law No. 2019-014 governs the collection, processing, transmission, storage, and utilisation of personal data in the country. This legislation mandates the establishment of the Togolese Data Protection Authority (IPDCP) and stipulates the appointment of data protection officers.
Coverage Horizontal
TOGO
Since December 2012, last amended in February 2013
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Minimum period for data retention
Law No. 2012-018 of 17 December 2012 on electronic communications, amended by Law No. 2013-003 of 19 February 2013 (Loi No. 2012-018 du 17 décembre 2012 sur les communications électroniques, modifiée par la Loi No. 2013-003 du 19 février 2013)
According to Art. 95 of Togo’s 2012 Electronic Communication Law, cryptology services providers are required to keep for one year content and data allowing the identification of anyone who has used their services and provide the technical means that enable the identification of those users.
Coverage Cryptology services providers
TOGO
Since June 2017
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Minimum period for data retention
Law No. 2017-07 of 22 June 2017 on Electronic Transactions (Loi No. 2017‐07 du 22 juin 2017 relative aux transactions électroniques)
Art. 63 of Law No. 2017-07 of June 22, 2017 on Electronic Transactions requires service providers to hold and retain, at least for a period of one year, data of such a nature as to allow the identification of anyone who has contributed to the creation of the content or any of the content of the services they provide.
Coverage Online service providers
TOGO
Since October 2019
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Requirement to perform a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) or have a data protection officer (DPO)
Law No. 2019-014 Relating to the Protection of Personal Data (Loi No. 2019-014 Relative à la Protection des Données à Caractère Personnel)
Chapter VI of Law No. 2019-014 on the protection of personal data provides that data controllers are required to appoint a personal data protection correspondent.
Coverage Horizontal
TOGO
Since May 2003
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Togo has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal
TOGO
Since November 2015
Since December 2012, last amended in February 2013
Since December 2012, last amended in February 2013
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Mandatory disclosure of business trade secrets such as algorithms or source code
Law No. 2015-10 of 24 November 2015 on the new penal code on the new penal code (Loi No. 2015-10 du 24 novembre 2015 portant nouveau code pénal portant le nouveau code pénal)
Law No. 2012-018 of 17 December 2012 on electronic communications, amended by Law No. 2013-003 of 19 February 2013 (Loi No. 2012-018 du 17 décembre 2012 sur les communications électroniques, modifiée par la Loi No. 2013-003 du 19 février 2013)
Law No. 2012-018 of 17 December 2012 on electronic communications, amended by Law No. 2013-003 of 19 February 2013 (Loi No. 2012-018 du 17 décembre 2012 sur les communications électroniques, modifiée par la Loi No. 2013-003 du 19 février 2013)
Art. 94 of the Electronic Communication Law obliges encryption service providers to comply with lawful interception orders. Refusal to provide secret decryption codes to government agencies is punishable by a fine between USD 3,544 and USD 14,178. However, Art. 628 of Law No. 2015-10 of November 24, 2015 on the New Penal Code refers to the criminal offence against disclosure of information pertaining to a company's business secret.
Coverage Horizontal
