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The United States Embassy in Zambia has issued a warning to its citizens regarding a controversial new cybersecurity law recently enacted in the southern African nation.
In an official security alert, the embassy cautioned Americans residing in or planning to travel to Zambia about the new legislation, which allows for the restriction and monitoring of all electronic communications in the country.
The law reportedly covers phone calls, emails, text messages, and broadcast content, all of which can be accessed by the government if they contain what is termed as “critical information”—a term the embassy notes is broadly defined and could apply to almost any type of communication.
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The Zambian government has defended the law, stating that it is necessary to combat cyber fraud, child pornography, and the spread of misinformation.
Following the US Embassy’s alert, Zambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement clarifying that the Cybersecurity and Cyber Crimes Act is not intended to violate anyone’s privacy—whether Zambian nationals or foreign visitors.
“The law does not permit mass or random surveillance. Any data interception or request must be authorized by a court,” the ministry stated.
It further explained that the term “critical information” relates specifically to national security, and any decisions or actions taken must be conducted by legally authorized institutions and in accordance with due process.
However, concerns remain that the law could be used to target government critics, especially with national elections expected next year.
