The “Algiers Declaration” on the regulation of digital platforms marks an important step in asserting African digital sovereignty, but its adoption is accompanied by strong reservations regarding its actual implementation and the risks of political manipulation. This text crystallizes both the ambitions of African states in the face of digital giants and the concerns of some economic actors and civil society.

Context of the Declaration

The declaration was adopted in Algiers during the 4th African Startup Conference, bringing together African ministers in charge of digital affairs, regulators, and the tech ecosystem under the auspices of the African Telecommunications Union. It is a continuation of the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa 2020-2030 and the AU’s initiatives on artificial intelligence and the African Digital Deal.

The stated objective is to provide the continent with a common framework to regulate major digital platforms, protect users, and support local innovation. This approach also aims to reduce dependence on non-African actors and establish a unified digital market.

The main commitments announced include the creation of “fair, safe, and responsible” platforms, with transparency obligations for digital giants operating in Africa. It notably includes mechanisms for collective bargaining with these actors to better regulate data use, taxation, and value sharing.

States also commit to adapting their regulatory frameworks to protect consumers, combat illegal content, and support the emergence of African digital solutions. The focus is on system interoperability, infrastructure security, and upskilling local talent.

Advances for the African ecosystem

For African startups, a harmonized continental framework can reduce regulatory fragmentation and facilitate scaling across multiple markets. In theory, this should improve the continent’s attractiveness to investors while strengthening its negotiating power with major international platforms.

The declaration aligns with the AU’s desire to build a single digital market, consistent with the AfCFTA and the continental AI strategy. It also provides a political basis for advocating common African positions in international internet governance forums.

Doubts and criticisms raised

Several observers, however, point out the gap between Algiers’ repeated announcements on digital technology and the concrete implementation of structural reforms. NGO reports also point to a context of restrictions on civil liberties and control of online space in Algeria, fueling fears of a security-driven use of digital regulation.

Civil society actors fear that platform regulation will serve more to control critical speech than to genuinely protect citizens’ digital rights. The lack of clear mechanisms for multi-stakeholder participation and guarantees of transparency in the future implementation of the declaration reinforces this skepticism.

Implications for African digital sovereignty

Beyond the Algerian case, this declaration illustrates the desire of African states to regain control over data flows, taxation, and the business models of platforms operating on the continent. It is part of a broader movement to build a pan-African approach to data, AI, and digital infrastructure.

However, the credibility of this digital sovereignty will depend on governments’ ability to reconcile the protection of fundamental rights, support for innovation, and inclusive governance that involves the private sector and civil society. Without this balance, the risk is that the “Algiers Declaration” will remain a symbolic text, or even become an instrument of control rather than a lever for shared digital development.