Law: Currently, there is no general data protection law in Cameroon.

Regulator: Not applicable.

Summary: Although Cameroon does not have specific data protection legislation, in May 2023, the Coordinator of the Digital Transformation Acceleration Project in Cameroon (PATNUC), under the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (the Ministry) requested public comments on a draft law relating to the protection of personal data in Cameroon (the Draft Law) and the draft Decree for the application of the Law relating to the protection of personal data. The Draft Law sets out definitions, obligations, and principles related to the processing of personal data, and for the creation of a national data protection authority. Further, the Draft Law also stipulates requirements related to data transfers, detailing mechanisms to facilitate cross-border data transfers including Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) and Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).

Nonetheless, the Constitution of Cameroon provides for the right to protection against any privacy interference and for the right to the privacy of correspondence. Other notable legislation includes Law No. 2010/012 of 21 December 2010 on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime in Cameroon which sets out provisions on the protection of individuals' privacy, data retention periods, and electronic communications confidentiality.

Notable case law includes the case of Mrs. MBOCK Frankline Junior v. Les Films TERRE AFRICAINE and Les Brasseries du Cameroun where it was held that mere evidence of a violation of privacy gives rise to monetary compensation, without the need to establish that concrete damage was suffered.