DATA PROTECTION DIGEST

Data Protection News and Analyses from Africa and across the Globe

Most African countries now have data protection laws, and enforcement has begun in earnest: regulators are issuing fines, serving formal notices and opening investigations. But that record sits scattered across dozens of regulator websites, gazettes and PDFs in several languages, and it rarely reaches the people who have to comply. The Digest fixes that. Enforcement decisions, new laws and regulations, guidance and deadlines from across Africa and the globe, in one brief you can read in five minutes.

What an issue looks like

Seven sections, every issue. Sent every two weeks, free, readable on a phone in a corridor between meetings.

Lead Story

One major development worth your full attention: a judgment, a new law, or a landmark decision.

Regulatory Update

A sweep across jurisdictions: new guidance, consultation outcomes, and regulatory announcements from the week.

The DPO Toolkit

Practical steps drawn from a live case or guidance document, framed for the people who have to implement them, e.g. data protection officers.

Enforcement Roundup

Fines, notices, and determinations from across Africa.

Global Watch

One international development, e.g. from the EU, UK or US, and its impact on African regulators and practitioners.

Deadlines

Upcoming compliance and regulatory dates you can act on.

Opportunities

Fellowships, conferences, calls for papers and other openings worth your time.

Latest from the archive

Read our archive
NG · GUIDANCE & POLICY

NDPC signs MOUs with the procurement bureau and the Governors' Forum

The NDPC executed two memoranda of understanding on 8 May 2026: one with the Bureau of Public Procurement, one with the Nigeria Governors' Forum.

8 May 2026 · Guidance & policy
UK · GUIDANCE & POLICY

Global watch: the ICO publishes guidance on AI-generated FOI requests

The UK Information Commissioner's Office published guidance on 6 May 2026 to help public authorities handle Freedom of Information requests involving or generated by AI systems, focused on the rising volume of AI-generated requests and how existing FOI principles apply to them.

6 May 2026 · Guidance & policy
NG · GUIDANCE & POLICY

Nigeria hosts regulators from nine African countries for a cross-border enforcement exchange

The NDPC hosted a two-day peer exchange in Abuja on 4 and 5 May 2026, bringing data protection regulators from nine African countries and multilateral institutions together to discuss cross-border enforcement coordination.

4 May 2026 · Guidance & policy
KE · CRYPTO & DIGITAL ASSETS

CBK starts hiring virtual asset supervisors before the VASP rules are final

The Central Bank of Kenya advertised senior and managerial roles for virtual asset licensing and compliance functions in late April 2026, applications closing 18 May, before the VASP Regulations had even been finalised.

late April 2026 · Crypto & digital assets
ZA · LEGISLATION

South Africa gazettes draft Capital Flow Management Regulations, crypto included for the first time

The National Treasury published the Draft Capital Flow Management Regulations 2026 for public comment in April 2026, replacing the Exchange Control Regulations of 1961 and bringing crypto assets formally inside South Africa's capital flow framework for the first time.

18 April 2026 · Legislation · Crypto & digital assets
NG · INVESTIGATIONS

NDPC investigates the Corporate Affairs Commission over a database breach

The NDPC confirmed on 17 April 2026 that it is investigating a reported breach of the Corporate Affairs Commission's database under section 46(3) of the NDPA 2023, alongside a coordinated Federal Government cybersecurity response.

17 April 2026 · Investigations

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