Recent Developments in the Protection of Personal Data under Law

Abstract

ا. In response to the rapid pace of digital transformation and the growing risks associated with data processing and the expansion of its scope, the Algerian legislator amended Law 18/07 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by enacting Law 25/11, promulgated on 24 July 2025. This amendment introduced a set of substantive changes aimed at redefining the legal concepts governing personal data and consolidating the fundamental principles regulating their processing. It further strengthened the obligations of data controllers and processors, expanded the powers of the National Authority for the Protection of Personal Data, and regulated the processing of personal data for purposes related to the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of criminal offences, as well as the execution of criminal penalties and the transfer of data abroad. These developments reflect the Algerian legislator’s effort to strike a balance between the requirements of digital transformation and the protection of individuals’ fundamental rights and freedoms, in a manner consistent with international standards governing personal data processing