Angola | Law against false information on the internet

Law 6/26 of 4 August (“the Law”) was recently published in Angola, establishing the legal framework governing preventive measures and liability for the production or dissemination of false information (fake news) on the internet. The Law is particularly relevant to the technology, media and telecommunications (“TMT”) sector. It directly affects telecommunications operators, digital platforms, application providers and other entities that make available, promote or disseminate online content aimed at the Angolan public, even if they are based outside the country.

The new framework aims to combat digital disinformation and protect fundamental rights, public order, national security and the democratic process. It also aims to increase transparency surrounding sponsored content and the management of inauthentic accounts.

Key impacts on the TMT sector

The Law distinguishes between two types of application provider: (i) those that merely facilitate the transmission of data without controlling the content; and (ii) those that play an active role in moderating, promoting or disseminating content, such as platforms or apps.

Key obligations imposed on app providers include:

1. Transparency: publication of statistical information on content and accounts that have been removed, suspended or flagged, including the criteria used for detection and data on sponsored content.
2. Reporting: the monthly submission of information to the Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority regarding inauthentic accounts, artificial dissemination, unregistered sponsored content, and complaints and interactions associated with disinformation.
3. Protection: adoption of measures to remove false content and label sponsored content, ensuring greater clarity regarding its paid or promoted nature.

In addition to these obligations, the Law sets out a series of best practices for app providers to implement:

1. Use of checks conducted by independent fact-checkers.
2. Limiting the ability to share or forward disinformation content to more than one user per interaction, where applicable.
3. Clearly identifying the content as disinformation.
4. Immediately ceasing any form of promotion of the content, including through paid advertising, recommendation mechanisms or other tools designed to increase its reach on the platform.
5. Providing verified and reliable information to users who have been exposed to the content since its publication.
6. Providing an accessible and clearly highlighted appeal mechanism, for a period of up to three months following the decision. This allows the user who created or shared the content, as well as the complainant, to challenge the decision taken by the app provider.

The Law also prohibits inauthentic accounts and networks for the artificial dissemination of disinformation withing internet applications, as well as unclassified sponsored content and unidentified artificial producers or disseminators. However, these restrictions do not prevent the protection of artistic, intellectual, satirical or cultural freedom of expression.

Non-compliance

In accordance with the general provisions of the law, perpetrators may be subject to administrative, civil and criminal liability. However, a breach of the legal obligations under this law may also constitute a minor, serious or very serious administrative offence, for which fines are graded according to the nature of the offence and the status of the offender. Additional penalties may also be imposed. These can include the temporary suspension of activities or digital functionality in the event of repeated serious administrative offences. In the event of a repeated very serious administrative offence, they can also include the closure of the platform or a ban on participation in public procurement in the telecommunications and information technology sector for a period of up to two years.

The Law also criminalises certain conduct associated with the production or dissemination of false information, where rights of personality, the protection of children and young people, state secrets, judicial secrecy or professional secrecy are at stake

Entry into force and recommendations

The Law came into force on 4 August 2026, the date of its publication. Entities covered by the new rules must conduct a thorough review of their internal content moderation and compliance processes. The adoption of internal policies, the implementation of accessible reporting mechanisms and systems for classifying sponsored content, the establishment of structures capable of preparing and submitting monthly reports to the regulatory authority, and cooperation with independent fact-checkers in combating disinformation, will be fundamental to ensuring compliance with the new legal framework.