Digital Rights at a Glance
Chad has a formal legal framework for data protection and now recognises connectivity as a right, but freedom of expression online remains severely restricted by criminal orders, mandated internet shutdowns, and surveillance of critical voices, while only 30% of the population has access to the internet.
Key Commitments
Malabo Convention 🟠
Chad signed the Malabo Convention in 2015 but has not yet ratified it
Budapest Convention 🔴
Chad is not a party to the Budapest Convention.
National Data Protection Laws
The Law No. 007/PR/2015 of February 10, 2015, on the Protection of Personal Data regulates the processing of personal data. This law grants data subjects certain rights: the right to be informed, the right of access, the right to rectification, the right to erasure, and the right to object to the processing of their data.
Existence of a Data Protection Authority 🟢
The National Agency for Information Security and Electronic Certification (ANSICE), established by the Data Protection Act of February 10, 2015, is responsible for enforcing this law. In 2026, the Senate passed a reform expanding ANSICE’s mandate to include cybersecurity, the fight against cybercrime, the protection of the national information space, the regulation of social media, and the oversight of artificial intelligence systems.
Cybercrime Law
The Law No. 009/PR/2015 of February 10, 2015, on Cybersecurity and the Fight Against Cybercrime establishes network security rules and criminalises cybercrimes such as unauthorised access, data manipulation, online fraud, identity-related offenses, and certain types of illegal online content.
State of Play
Since 2015, Chad has had a comprehensive legal framework covering personal data protection and cybercrime. In 2025, the Ombudsman’s Office publicly stated that “the Internet should not be a luxury, but a fundamental social right,” acknowledging the high costs and limited market regulation. Connectivity is improving but is starting from a very low base. In 2024, the number of telecom subscribers exceeded 14 million (+9.2% year-over-year), with a mobile phone penetration rate of 79.3%. Internet penetration remains limited to about 30 percent of the population.
Freedom of expression online is severely restricted. The authorities use Ordinances No. 011/PT/2023 and No. 009/IPT/2023 to criminalise comments on governance, security operations, or electoral disputes. These regulations were used to justify arrests, confiscations of equipment, and intimidation of journalists and bloggers in 2024–2025. In 2025, human rights activists Makaila Nguebla and Charfadine Galmaye Saleh were stripped of their citizenship following sustained criticism of the authorities. Government agencies imposed blackouts on social media, with telecom operators admitting in court that they had been ordered to block these platforms. In 2026, Chad scored 56 out of 100 for Internet freedom (30th out of 49 African countries) according to Cloudwards’ “Internet Freedom by Country” ranking, reflecting “significant restrictions” on access to certain content and freedom of expression online.
Recommendations
1. Ratify and implement international instruments: Ratify the Malabo Convention and the Budapest Convention as soon as possible, and bring national laws and practices into line with international standards on digital rights
2. End arbitrary Internet shutdowns: Put an end to social media and Internet shutdowns justified on grounds of “public order,” ensure the continuity and accessibility of online communications, and protect freedom of expression and the right to information
3. Strengthen data protection and oversight mechanisms: Provide ANSICE with the resources it truly needs to carry out its functions, and establish an independent oversight mechanism to investigate and sanction violations of digital rights committed by state or private actors
Digitalise Youth partners who contributed to this section:
Club Jeun ‘Action for Awareness and Development (CJASD)
