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

The DRC lacks a dedicated organization for screening inbound foreign investment. Instead, this responsibility falls upon the Presidency and various ministries, functioning in a de facto capacity.

Section 201 of the Digital Code stipulates that the transfer of personal data to a third country or international organisation requires prior authorisation from the Personal Data Protection Authority, which also undertakes continuous oversight of such transfers. The recipient must provide a level of protection that is both adequate and equivalent to that prescribed by the Digital Code’s provisions on personal data protection. However, Section 202 permits transfers to jurisdictions lacking adequate protection in specific circumstances, including where the data subject has given explicit consent, where the transfer is necessary for the execution of a contract, or where it is essential to safeguard the vital interests of the data subject or another individual, particularly when the data subject is unable, either physically or legally, to provide consent.

According to Art. 18 of Law No. 82-001 on Industrial Property, non-Congolese patent applicants domiciled abroad are obliged to indicate an address for service with a Congolese agent and to work through them.

The DRC is not a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

DRC is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II).

The 2010 Public Procurement Law provides that a public administration can limit their participation through domestic preference granted to national and regional companies. Art. 37.5 considers nationality, residency, regional presence, and cooperation partners as criteria to provide a preference that would result in a reduction in the tenderer's financial offer. Art. 86 of Decree No. 10/22, laying down guidelines for the application of the Law related to Public Procurement, requires tender offers to explicitly mention "national preference" when publishing tenders that apply this requirement.

DRC is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) nor does it have observer status.

According to Art. 40 of Law No. 20/017 on Telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies, the legal entity benefiting from a licence must adopt the form of a Société Anonyme (‘S.A’). Without prejudice to agreements and conventions to which the Congolese State is a party, at least thirty per cent (30%) of the share capital of the aforementioned company must be allocated as follows:
- At least 25% must be held by Congolese natural or legal persons whose shares are owned by Congolese natural persons. This subscription must be paid within three years of the company’s incorporation.
- 5% is reserved for Congolese employees of the company.
In the event that the 30% threshold mentioned above is not met, the company may still be incorporated, provided the share reserved for Congolese workers is guaranteed.

It is reported that, in practice, the DRC requires foreign investors to hire local agents and participate in a joint venture with the government or local partners.

The Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU provides an updated framework aimed at encouraging online sales. The Directive has been implemented by the Consumer Protection Law of 2021 Ν.112(Ι)/2021. The law gives the Consumer Protection Service wider authority to impose sanctions, including administrative fines, and to apply to the court for injunctions in cases of violations. The legislation consolidates the laws in relation to consumer rights, unfair commercial practices, misleading and comparative advertising, unfair terms in contracts, indication of product prices, conditions for the sale of goods at discount prices, and product guarantees.

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

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