ALGIERS/CAIRO — Algeria’s parliament passed a sweeping foreign agents law Thursday, enacting penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to 200,000 dinars ($1,500) for individuals or entities receiving foreign funding who engage in what the government defines as “political activity” on digital platforms, according to the text of the law reviewed by Media Hook.
The legislation, which passed the National People’s Congress by a wide margin, names X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as platforms subject to the law and requires them to designate local legal representatives. The text defines “foreign” broadly, covering any international organisation, foreign government, or entity with more than 20 percent foreign ownership. Violators face asset freezes, bank account suspensions, and travel bans alongside the prison terms.
The law is the most repressive piece of legislation targeting digital expression in North Africa, rights groups say, and has drawn condemnation from Washington, the European Union, and Amnesty International. Sara Lemjibar, North Africa director at Amnesty, said the law “amounts to a wholesale assault on civic space” and called on Algeria’s Constitutional Court to strike it down.
Algerian authorities have previously used a 2021 information crimes law to prosecute journalists and activists. Human rights organisations say the new foreign agents framework gives the government even broader powers, including the authority to label independent media outlets as foreign agents, according to a State Department official.
The United States imposed visa sanctions on six Algerian officials and froze assets of three security force commanders under the Global Magnitsky human rights programme. The EU prepared a separate package of targeted sanctions. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued an advisory warning US citizens and companies of potential exposure under the law.
Algeria’s Constitutional Court is already considering a challenge to the law filed by opposition parties and civil society groups. A ruling is expected within 60 days.
The law takes effect 90 days after its publication in the official gazette, giving platforms and affected organisations a narrow window to comply or exit the Algerian market.
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