AI REGULATIONS IN ALGERIA (AFRICAN UNION)

Algeria has not yet developed any comprehensive or specific laws for artificial intelligence. Still, similar to other nations, Algeria is just beginning to realize the importance of Artificial Intelligence in various sectors including industries, health, and governance. As the focus in Algeria has been on transitioning into a digital and technological era, such a focus may eventually be concentrated on more specific regulations related to AI.

Algeria is invested through a Data Protection Law, or specifically, by Law No. 18-07, 2018, which governs the collection, processing, and storage of personal data—probably not AI-specific but potentially impacts AI applications, particularly those with personal data. It is aimed at governing the protection of personal data, marking a wide step toward compliance with global standards of data protection, since it lays down rules comprehensively regarding how personal data is supposed to be collected, processed, stored, and shared, making sure that respect is given to the right to privacy of the individual. 

Another significant step taken by the African Union is to come up with the AI Data Policy Framework of 2022 that deals with the flow of Data for AI-based technologies. The AI Data Policy Framework 2022 complements the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy by focusing on using the transformative potential to benefit African nations, considering that the main interest is creating a trusted, secure, and harmonized data governance system across the continent. Another key element is the promotion of free cross-border data flows, thereby ensuring the movement of data moves without any obstacle within Africa, while at the same time being protected with robust safeguards against privacy violations and national security risks. The policy also aims to see that the gains from using the data are equitably distributed in different regions and populations in Africa and in furtherance of this, the framework promotes strong institutions for governance of overseeing data management in such a way that responsible and innovative use is combined with due respect for human rights.