Database

Browse Database

GABON

Since February 2018
Since December 2008

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Indicator Minimum period for data retention
Ordinance No. 00000015/PR/2018 of 23 February 2018 Regulating Cybersecurity and the Fight Against Cybercrime in the Gabonese Republic (Ordonnance No. 00000015/PR/2018 du 23 Février 2018 Portant Réglementation de la Cybersécurité et de la Lutte Contre la Cybercriminalité en République Gabonaise)

Regulation No. 07/08-UEAC-133-CM-18 of 19 December 2008 Establishing the Legal Framework for the Protection of the Rights of Users of Networks and Electronic Communications Services within CEMAC
Art. 12 of the Ordinance regulating Cybersecurity and the Fight Against Cybercrime requires network operators and electronic communication service providers to keep the connection and traffic data in their facilities for a period of ten years. The same requirement applies to information systems operators as per Art. 16. This is despite the sub-regional legislation of CEMAC to which Gabon belongs, which provides for a maximum period of two years during which the States can allow operators to keep traffic data for security reasons.
Coverage Electronic communication network operators and information systems operators

GABON

N/A

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place for copyright infringements
A basic legal framework on intermediary liability for copyright infringement is absent in Gabon's law and jurisprudence.
Coverage Internet intermediaries

GABON

N/A

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place beyond copyright infringements
A basic legal framework on intermediary liability beyond copyright infringement is absent in Gabon's law and jurisprudence.
Coverage Internet intermediaries

GABON

Reported in 2021, last reported in 2023

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator User identity requirement
Mandatory SIM card registration
It is reported that Gabon imposes an identity requirement for SIM registration. Anyone wanting to purchase a SIM card has to provide their national ID card or a passport in case of foreigners to activate a new prepaid SIM card.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

GABON

Since February 2018

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Monitoring requirement
Ordinance No. 00000015/PR/2018 of 23 February 2018 Regulating Cybersecurity and the Fight Against Cybercrime in the Gabonese Republic (Ordonnance No. 00000015/PR/2018 du 23 Février 2018 Portant Réglementation de la Cybersécurité et de la Lutte Contre la Cybercriminalité en République Gabonaise)
Arts. 12 and 16 of the Ordinance Regulating Cybersecurity and the Fight Against Cybercrime require network operators, electronic communication service providers and information system operators to install data traffic monitoring mechanisms in their networks. This data can be accessible during judicial investigations.
Coverage Telecommunication sector

GABON

Reported in 2018, last reported in 2019

Pillar Content access  |  Indicator Blocking or filtering of commercial web content
Blocking of commercial web content
It is reported that Gabon's High Authority for Communication (HAC) imposes blocking of news websites and suspension of media outlets. It is reported that the HAC shut down one of Gabon's most popular websites called 'Gabon Media Times' for a month in August 2019 for publishing an article about the shortage of beds in Gabon’s hospitals. Furthermore, in 2018, the Gabonese media regulator suspended a newspaper for three months and banned its editor from working for six months over an article about President Ali Bongo’s health.
Coverage Online news

GABON

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Signature of the WTO Telecom Reference Paper
Lack of appendment of WTO Telecom Reference Paper to schedule of commitments
Gabon has not appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

GABON

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Presence of an independent telecom authority
Presence of independent telecom authority
It is reported that the Post and Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority (ARCEP), the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

GABON

Since February 2018

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Local storage requirement
Ordinance No. 00000015/PR/2018 of 23 February 2018 Regulating Cybersecurity and the Fight Against Cybercrime in the Gabonese Republic (Ordonnance No. 00000015/PR/2018 du 23 Février 2018 Portant Réglementation de la Cybersécurité et de la Lutte Contre la Cybercriminalité en République Gabonaise)
Art. 19 of the Ordinance Regulating Cybersecurity and the Fight Against Cybercrime mandates electronic communication network operators and information systems operators to host a copy of their connection and traffic data in the national territory.
Coverage Electronic communication network operators and information systems operators

GABON

Since February 2018

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Infrastructure requirement
Ordinance No. 00000015/PR/2018 of 23 February 2018 Regulating Cybersecurity and the Fight Against Cybercrime in the Gabonese Republic (Ordonnance No. 00000015/PR/2018 du 23 Février 2018 Portant Réglementation de la Cybersécurité et de la Lutte Contre la Cybercriminalité en République Gabonaise)
Art. 12 of the Ordinance Regulating Cybersecurity and the Fight Against Cybercrime requires electronic communications network operators to have an operational management centre for their infrastructures in the national territory.
Coverage Electronic communication network operators and information systems operators

GABON

N/A

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Signatory of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) with coverage of the most relevant services sectors (CPC 752, 754, 84)
Lack of participation in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
Gabon is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), nor does it have observer status.
Coverage Horizontal

GABON

Since July 1998

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Law No. 15/98 of 23 July 1998 establishing the Investment Charter in the Gabonese Republic (Loi No.15/1998 instituant la Charte des Investissements)
There are no limits on foreign ownership or control in Gabon. Investments in Gabon are governed by the Gabonese 1998 Investment Charter of 1998, which is aligned with the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) investment regulations. The Charter provides the same rights to foreign companies operating in Gabon as to domestic firms.
Coverage Horizontal

GABON

Since February 1999, entry into force in February 2002, last amended in December 2015
Since December 2019, entry into force in March 2020

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Practical or legal restrictions related to the application process for patents
Bangui Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African Intellectual Property Organization, Constituting a Revision of the Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African and Malagasy Office of Industrial Property (Bangui (Central African Republic), 2 March 1977) (Accord de Bangui relatif à la création d'une organization Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle, constituant révision de l'Accord relatif à la création d'un Office Africain et Malgache de la Propriété Industrielle (Bangui (République centrafricaine), le 2 mars 1977)

Regulations on the Profession of Authorised Agent Before the African Intellectual Property Organization (Règlement sur la Profession de Mandataire Agréé auprès de l'Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle)
According to the Bangui Agreement, ratified by 17 French-speaking States, including Gabon, applicants resident outside the territory of the Member States must file through an agent selected in one of those Member States (Section III, Art. 8). The professional status of agent accredited to the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) is governed by the Regulations on the profession of Authorised Agent before the OAPI.
Coverage Horizontal

GABON

Since January 1978

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Gabon is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal

GABON

Since July 1987
Since March 1977, as amended in December 2015, entry into force in November 2020

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Copyright law with clear exceptions
Law No. 1/87 on the Establishment of the Protection for Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Loi No. 1/87 Instituant la Protection du Droit d'Auteur et des Droits Voisins)

Bangui Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African Intellectual Property Organization, Constituting a Revision of the Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African and Malagasy Office of Industrial Property (Bangui (Central African Republic), 2 March 1977) (Accord de Bangui relatif à la création d'une organization Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle, constituant révision de l'Accord relatif à la création d'un Office Africain et Malgache de la Propriété Industrielle (Bangui (République centrafricaine), le 2 mars 1977)
Gabon has a clear regime of copyright exceptions, which enables the lawful use of copyrighted work by others without obtaining permission (Arts. 33-37 of Law No. 1/87). The regime follows the fair use model. In addition, the Revised Bangui Agreement, which is a regional intellectual property law that is not only a regional convention applicable in all member states but also serves as a national intellectual property law in Gabon and each of the other member states, contains provisions on copyright in Annex VII: Chapter IV (Limitations to Economic Rights). Although the Agreement establishes a set of copyright exceptions, these do not adhere to the fair use or fair dealing models.
Coverage Horizontal

Report issue     Report new measure