" US issues warning over new Zambian cyber-security law" 17 April 2025

The US embassy in Zambia has warned its citizens to be wary of a new "intrusive" cyber-security law introduced in the southern African country. The embassy issued an alert telling Americans "in or planning to visit Zambia of a new law that requires the interception and surveillance of all electronic communications in the country". This includes calls, emails, texts and streamed content "in-country to assess if they include any transmission of 'critical information,' a term the law defines so broadly that it could apply to almost any activity", the embassy says. Zambia's government said the law was needed to tackle online fraud and child pornography, as well as the spread of disinformation. Following the alert from the US embassy, Zambia's foreign ministry released a statement saying that the new Cyber Security Act was "not intended to invade any person's privacy" - whether Zambians or foreigners.

"The Law does not authorize mass or random surveillance. Any interception or data request requires a court-issued warrant," it said.

The statement added that the "classification of 'critical information'" referred to national security, "and any assessments or actions taken are carried out by authorized institutions, in line with due process".

The new measure empowers a law enforcement officer with a warrant to enter any premises to search and seize a computer or computer system containing material that is either evidence necessary to prove an offence or acquired by a person as a result of an offence. It also allows the government to extradite Zambians deemed to have committed any offence under the law, with a range of jail terms prescribed. Depending on the crime they have committed, offenders may be fined or jailed for between five and 15 years.