CAMEROON
Since December 2018, entry into force in March 2019
Since June 2019
Since June 2019
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Restrictions on online payments
Regulation No. 02/18/CEMAC/UMAC/CM of 21 December 2018 on Foreign Exchange Regulations in CEMAC (Règlement No. 02/18/CEMAC/UMAC/CM du 21 Décembre 2018 Portant Réglementation des Changes dans la CEMAC)
Instruction No. 8/GR/2019 on the Conditions and Modalities for Use of Electronic Payment Instruments Outside CEMAC (Instruction No. 008/GR/2019 Relative aux Conditions et Modalités d'Utilisation à l'Extérieur de la CEMAC des Instruments de Paiement Électronique)
Instruction No. 8/GR/2019 on the Conditions and Modalities for Use of Electronic Payment Instruments Outside CEMAC (Instruction No. 008/GR/2019 Relative aux Conditions et Modalités d'Utilisation à l'Extérieur de la CEMAC des Instruments de Paiement Électronique)
According to the Instruction No. 8/GR/2019 issued by the Governor of the Bank of Central African States to facilitate the interpretation and implementation of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) Regulation 02/18/CEMAC/UMAC/CM, there is a limit of 1 million XAF (approx. USD 1,700) per month and per person for the remote settlement of transactions, including online payments. According to Arts. 7-8, justification needs to be provided above this limit. The Instruction provides guidance on the provision of Art. 34 of the Regulation, which implements certain limits for using electronic payment instruments outside the CEMAC and applies to the six CEMAC member states, including Cameroon.
Coverage Electronic payment instruments
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240225073742/https://www.droit-afrique.com/uploads/CEMAC-Reglement-2018-02-changes.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20221125221459/https://www.beac.int/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Instruction-n%C2%B008-GR-2019-on-the-conditions-and-modalities-for-use-of-electronics-payment-instrument-outs...
- https://clarenceabogados.com/client-alert/beac-instructions-to-foreign-exchange-regulations/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20241128140950/https://www.anif.cm/images/pdfanif/reglement_anglais.pdf
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CAMEROON
Reported in 2023
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Low 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 KAF 70000 (approx. USD 110), below the 200 USD threshold recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Coverage Horizontal
CAMEROON
Since May 2011
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Law No. 2011/012 of 6 May 2011 on Consumer Protection in Cameroon (Législation Loi-Cadre No. 2011/012 du 6 Mai 2011 Portant Protection du Consommateur au Cameroun)
Legislation Framework Law No. 2011/012 provides a comprehensive consumer protection framework that applies to online transactions.
Coverage Horizontal
CAMEROON
Since October 2015, entry into force in May 2018
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Ratification of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Cameroon has signed and ratified the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.
Coverage Horizontal
CAMEROON
N/A
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Sub-pillar Framework for data protection
Lack of comprehensive legal framework for data protection
Cameroon does not have a comprehensive regime in place for personal data, but it has sectoral regulations. In addition, the national Constitution, amended by Law No. 96-06 of 18 January 1996, guarantees the privacy of communications in its preamble, stating that “the privacy of all correspondence is inviolate. No interference may be allowed except by decisions emanating from the Judicial Power”. The 2010 Cybersecurity and Cybercrime law also provides for communications privacy under Art. 41. The obligation for service providers to guarantee users’ privacy and the confidentiality of information is covered under Arts. 42 and 26.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240306222417/https://www.dataguidance.com/jurisdiction/cameroon
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231206182336/https://www.prc.cm/en/multimedia/documents/6285-loi-n-96-06-du-18-01-1996-revision-constitution-1972-en
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220119191525/https://www.minpostel.gov.cm/images/Les_textes/Lois/Loi_2010-012_cybersecurite_cybercriminalite.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231204224900/https://www.art.cm/fr/content/n%C2%B0-20130399pm-du-27-fevrier-2013-fixant-les-modalit%C3%A9s-de-protection-des-consommateurs-et-des
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230329191948/http://www.droit-afrique.com/upload/doc/cemac/CEMAC-Directive-2008-07-droit-des-utilisateurs-de-reseaux.pdf
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CAMEROON
Since December 2010
Since December 2008
Since December 2008
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Sub-pillar Minimum period for data retention
Law No. 2010/012 of 21 December 2010 on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime in Cameroon (Loi No. 2010/012 du 21 Décembre 2010 Relative à la Cybersecurité et la Cybercriminalité au Cameroun)
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 (Directive No. 7/08-UEAC-133-CM-18 Fixant le Cadre Juridique de la Protection des Droits des Utilisateurs de Réseaux et de Services de Communications Électroniques au Sein de la CEMAC)
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 (Directive No. 7/08-UEAC-133-CM-18 Fixant le Cadre Juridique de la Protection des Droits des Utilisateurs de Réseaux et de Services de Communications Électroniques au Sein de la CEMAC)
According to Art. 25, Section I of Law No. 2010/012, network operators and providers of electronic communications services are obligated to keep connection and traffic data for ten years. This is despite the sub-regional legislation of CEMAC, to which Cameroon belongs, providing for a maximum period of two years during which the States can allow operators to keep traffic data for security reasons.
Coverage Network operators and providers of electronic communications services
Sources
CAMEROON
Since December 2010
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Sub-pillar Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Law No. 2010/012 of 21 December 2010 on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime in Cameroon (Loi No. 2010/012 du 21 Décembre 2010 Relative à la Cybersecurité et la Cybercriminalité au Cameroun)
Cameroon has a safe harbour regime in place for intermediaries for copyright infringements. Art. 34.2 of Law No. 2010/012 stipulates that intermediaries (defined as anyone who, even free of charge, stores signals, writings, images, sounds or messages of any kind provided by the recipients of these services) are not liable in the following cases:
- They were not effectively aware of their unlawful nature or of facts and circumstances showing this nature;
- If they learned of the facts, they acted promptly to remove this data or make it impossible to access it.
- They were not effectively aware of their unlawful nature or of facts and circumstances showing this nature;
- If they learned of the facts, they acted promptly to remove this data or make it impossible to access it.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220119191525/https://www.minpostel.gov.cm/images/Les_textes/Lois/Loi_2010-012_cybersecurite_cybercriminalite.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20210226205437/https://ictpolicyafrica.org/api/documents/download?_id=5ebc1455becbe0001b2536c3
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231204122255/https://lexafrica.com/2020/03/data-protection-overview-in-cameroon/
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CAMEROON
Since December 2010
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Sub-pillar Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Law No. 2010/012 of 21 December 2010 on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime in Cameroon (Loi No. 2010/012 du 21 Décembre 2010 Relative à la Cybersecurité et la Cybercriminalité au Cameroun)
Cameroon has a safe harbour regime in place for intermediaries beyond copyright infringements. Art. 34.2 of Law No. 2010/012 stipulates that intermediaries (defined as anyone who, even free of charge, stores signals, writings, images, sounds or messages of any kind provided by the recipients of these services) are not liable in the following cases:
- They were not effectively aware of their unlawful nature or of facts and circumstances showing this nature;
- If they learned of the facts, they acted promptly to remove this data or make it impossible to access it.
- They were not effectively aware of their unlawful nature or of facts and circumstances showing this nature;
- If they learned of the facts, they acted promptly to remove this data or make it impossible to access it.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220119191525/https://www.minpostel.gov.cm/images/Les_textes/Lois/Loi_2010-012_cybersecurite_cybercriminalite.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20210226205437/https://ictpolicyafrica.org/api/documents/download?_id=5ebc1455becbe0001b2536c3
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231204122255/https://lexafrica.com/2020/03/data-protection-overview-in-cameroon/
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CAMEROON
Since December 2010
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Sub-pillar User identity requirement
Law No. 2010/013 of 21 December 2010 Governing Electronic Communications in Cameroon (Loi No. 2010/013 du 21 Décembre 2010 Régissant les Communications Électroniques au Cameroun)
According to Art. 55 of Law No. 2010/013, operators of electronic communications networks open to the public, as well as service providers, are required at the time of any subscription to proceed to register the identification of subscribers and terminals.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20221118104602/https://www.fratel.org/documents/2011/12/201012-Cameroun-Loi_communications_electroniques-.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230210004818/https://www.businessincameroon.com/telecom/0110-5670-cameroon-a-decree-to-limit-numbers-of-sim-per-subscriber-and-prohibit-sale-of-sim-cards-on-streets
CAMEROON
Reported in 2024
Pillar Content access |
Sub-pillar Presence of Internet shutdowns
Presence of Internet shutdowns
The indicator "6.2.4 - 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 3 in Cameroon for the year 2023. This corresponds to "Rarely but there have been a few occasions throughout the year when the government shut down domestic access to Internet."
Coverage Horizontal
CAMEROON
Since December 2006
Pillar Content access |
Sub-pillar Restrictions on online advertising
Law No. 2006/018 of 29 December 2006 to regulate advertising in Cameroon (Loi No. 2006/018 du 29 décembre 2006 régissant la publicité au Cameroun)
According to Art. 13 of Law No. 2006/018, foreign operators wishing to carry out any advertising activity in the territory of Cameroon must conclude an agreement of representation to this effect with a Cameroonian operator duly approved for the advertising profession concerned. This also applies to online advertising.
Coverage Advertising sector
CAMEROON
Since December 2010
Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Other import restrictions, including non-transparent/discriminatory import procedures
Law No. 2010/013 of 21 December 2010 Governing Electronic Communications in Cameroon (Loi No. 2010/013 du 21 Décembre 2010 Régissant les Communications Électroniques au Cameroun)
According to Section 58 of Law No. 2010/013, an authorisation is required for the supply, export, import or use of cryptography means or services. The requirements do not apply to cryptographic functions which are integrated into application software used by users.
Coverage Cryptography means and services
Sources
- https://www.gp-digital.org/world-map-of-encryption/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220204130031/https://www.antic.cm/images/stories/laws/Law%20relating%20to%20cybersecurity%20and%20cybercriminality%20in%20Cameroon.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240127142509/https://www.minpostel.gov.cm/images/Les_textes/Lois/Loi_2013-013_communications_electroniques.pdf
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CAMEROON
Since December 2010
Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Export restrictions on ICT goods or online services
Law No. 2010/013 of 21 December 2010 Governing Electronic Communications in Cameroon (Loi No. 2010/013 du 21 Décembre 2010 Régissant les Communications Électroniques au Cameroun)
According to Section 58 of Law No. 2010/013, an authorisation is required for the supply, export, import or use of cryptography means or services. The requirements do not apply to cryptographic functions integrated into application software users use.
Coverage Cryptography means and services
Sources
- https://www.gp-digital.org/world-map-of-encryption/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220204130031/https://www.antic.cm/images/stories/laws/Law%20relating%20to%20cybersecurity%20and%20cybercriminality%20in%20Cameroon.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240127142509/https://www.minpostel.gov.cm/images/Les_textes/Lois/Loi_2013-013_communications_electroniques.pdf
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CAMEROON
Since July 2015
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Self-certification for product safety
Decree No. 2015/1875/PM of 1 July 2015 Establishing and Fixing the Modalities of Implementation of the Conformity Assessment Program before Embarkation of Goods (PECAE) Imported into the Republic of Cameroon (Décret No. 2015/1875/PM du 1er Juillet 2015 Instituant et Fixant les Modalités de Mise en Œuvre du Programme d’Évaluation de la Conformité Avant Embarquement des Marchandises Importées en République du Cameroun)
According to Art. 8 of Decree No. 2015/1875 / PM, ICT goods are among the goods which are subject to the Pre-Shipment Conformity Assessment Program for goods imported into the Republic of Cameroon (PECAE). This program involves some of the following activities: auditing, surveillance, inspection, analysis, testing and certification (Art. 4.1). Testing must be performed in one of the following types of labouratories:
- Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) labouratories;
- Third-party ISO/IEC 17025 accredited labouratory;
- Supplier labouratory, provided that the test results are detailed as per the corresponding standard, that the labouratory holds a recognised quality certification system and that the list of the equipment with the corresponding calibration records is supplied to demonstrate labouratory capabilities for testing.
- Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) labouratories;
- Third-party ISO/IEC 17025 accredited labouratory;
- Supplier labouratory, provided that the test results are detailed as per the corresponding standard, that the labouratory holds a recognised quality certification system and that the list of the equipment with the corresponding calibration records is supplied to demonstrate labouratory capabilities for testing.
Coverage ICT goods
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20241007171106/https://s1084e755aa436055.jimcontent.com/download/version/1578932135/module/12231852857/name/SGSGISPCA%20Cameroun%20DatasheetA4EN16V5.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20241007171550/https://cameroontradehub.cm/uploads/media/loi/0001/01/8812beff6c551698c81eb0d95c12762d64466a03.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20241007171907/https://s1084e755aa436055.jimcontent.com/download/version/1578932117/module/12231865457/name/decretpecae.pdf
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CAMEROON
Since December 2010
Since December 2010
Since December 2010
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Restrictions on encryption standards
Law No. 2010/012 of 21 December 2010 on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime in Cameroon (Loi No. 2010/012 du 21 Décembre 2010 Relative à la Cybersecurité et la Cybercriminalité au Cameroun)
Law No. 2010/013 of 21 December 2010 Governing Electronic Communications in Cameroon (Loi No. 2010/013 du 21 Décembre 2010 Régissant les Communications Électroniques au Cameroun)
Law No. 2010/013 of 21 December 2010 Governing Electronic Communications in Cameroon (Loi No. 2010/013 du 21 Décembre 2010 Régissant les Communications Électroniques au Cameroun)
Section 58 of Law No. 2010/013 requires authorisation for the supply, export, import or use of cryptography means or services, although the requirements do not apply to cryptographic functions which are integrated into application software used by users. Under the law, criminal investigation officers and authorised officials may require the decryption of encrypted data by specified persons as authorised by the State Counsel, an examining judge or a court. They may also require communication service providers to comply with these requests, except where they are unable to satisfy such requests. The use of encryption to commit a crime and refusal to hand over the convention to judicial authorities in such cases is punishable by imprisonment, a high financial penalty, or both. Section 7.2 of Law No. 2010/012 states that the National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ANTIC) shall be “responsible for the regulation, control and monitoring of activities related to the security of electronic communication networks, information systems, and electronic certification on behalf of the State” and that one of its missions is to “examine applications for the certification of cryptographic means”.
Coverage Cryptography means and services
Sources
- https://www.gp-digital.org/world-map-of-encryption/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240912150833/https://www.antic.cm/images/stories/laws/Law%20relating%20to%20cybersecurity%20and%20cybercriminality%20in%20Cameroon.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240127142509/https://www.minpostel.gov.cm/images/Les_textes/Lois/Loi_2013-013_communications_electroniques.pdf
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