Angola's National Assembly: No Room for False Internet Information

• Angola's Law Against False Information on the Internet has come into force, imposing civil and criminal liability for disseminating false information online.
• The law prescribes prison sentences ranging from one to three years for disseminating false information, with longer sentences applicable in certain cases.
• Digital platforms are required to implement transparency mechanisms and remove potentially defamatory content to avoid liability.
• Lawyers advising clients with an online presence in Angola should review their digital strategies to ensure compliance with the new law.

The law prescribes prison sentences ranging from one to three years for disseminating false information, with longer sentences applicable when the content incites hatred or attacks individuals' or institutions' reputations.

The Law Against False Information on the Internet has officially come into force in Angola, imposing civil and criminal liability on individuals who disseminate false information online. The law was approved by the National Assembly in May and promulgated by President João Lourenço two months later. It establishes preventive measures and accountability for the production or dissemination of false information that violates various rights, including good name, honor, reputation, image, privacy, and protection of democratic processes and state secrets.

The law prescribes prison sentences ranging from one to three years for disseminating false information, with longer sentences applicable when the content incites hatred or attacks individuals' or institutions' reputations. Digital platforms are also required to implement transparency mechanisms and remove potentially defamatory content to avoid liability.

The law was initiated by the Executive branch and establishes an asymmetric liability model for digital platforms, requiring them to take proactive measures to prevent the dissemination of false information. The legislation also categorizes administrative offenses as minor, serious, and very serious, with fines ranging from four to 50 national minimum wages for individuals and up to 400 national minimum wages for legal entities. Notably, the law does not penalize the expression of opinion or critical assessment of public acts or policies, unless accompanied by objective elements indicating falsification of facts and malicious intent.

This development has significant implications for lawyers advising clients with an online presence in Angola. To ensure compliance with the new law, they should review their digital strategies and implement transparency mechanisms to prevent the dissemination of false information. This may involve removing potentially defamatory content and taking proactive steps to verify the accuracy of online statements. As a result, businesses and individuals operating online in Angola must adapt to this new regulatory landscape to avoid liability.

This development means lawyers advising clients with an online presence in Angola should review their digital strategies to ensure compliance with the new law, including implementing transparency mechanisms and removing potentially defamatory content.

Source: Original reporting via ANGOP