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Monrovia, Liberia | June 25, 2026-The Liberia Internet Governance Forum (Liberia IGF) warmly welcomes the signing into law of the Data Protection Act of Liberia by His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. This landmark legislation, officially titled “An Act for the Collection, Processing, Transmission, Storage, Protection, and Use of Personal Information in Liberia,” represents one of the most significant milestones in Liberia’s digital governance journey and establishes the country’s first standalone legal framework dedicated to the protection of personal data and privacy.

The enactment of the Data Protection Act is far more than a legislative accomplishment. It marks the beginning of a new chapter in Liberia’s digital transformation—one in which privacy, accountability, transparency, and respect for fundamental rights become central pillars of digital development. As digital technologies increasingly shape government services, financial systems, healthcare, education, financial services, and public administration, protecting personal information has become a cornerstone of democratic governance, economic resilience, and sustainable digital development., and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the protection of personal information becomes indispensable to building public confidence and sustainable digital growth.

The Liberia IGF congratulates the Government of Liberia for demonstrating visionary leadership in advancing this historic reform and positioning the country among the growing number of African nations that have enacted comprehensive standalone data protection legislation. This achievement reflects Liberia’s commitment to strengthening democratic governance, protecting digital rights, promoting responsible innovation, and fostering greater public trust in the digital economy. The Liberia IGF also extends its sincere appreciation and   commendation to Senator Francis Saidy Dopoh II for his steadfast legislative leadership and commitment to advancing Liberia’s digital legal framework. His dedication to strengthening cybersecurity and digital governance has contributed significantly to laying the foundation for a safer, more secure, and rights-respecting digital future for all Liberians.

The Liberia IGF believes that the successful implementation of the Data Protection Act will require strong collaboration among government, regulators, the private sector, civil society, academia, the technical community, development partners, and citizens. Building institutional capacity, raising public awareness, and promoting responsible data governance will be essential to ensuring that every Liberian understands and can exercise their data protection rights. Peterking Quaye, National Convener of the Liberia Internet Governance Forum (Liberia IGF), stated:“The signing of Liberia’s first Data Protection Act marks a defining moment in our nation’s digital transformation. This landmark legislation reflects Liberia’s commitment to protecting privacy, strengthening digital trust, and advancing innovation responsibly. We commend President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for his leadership, congratulate the Government of Liberia on this historic achievement, and recognize Senator Francis Saidy Dopoh II for his dedication to strengthening Liberia’s digital legislative framework. By enacting a standalone Data Protection Act, Liberia has joined a growing community of nations building secure, rights-based, and globally competitive digital economies. The work now begins to ensure this law is effectively implemented for the benefit of every Liberian.”

The Liberia Internet Governance Forum views this development as a transformative milestone that enhances Liberia’s credibility within Africa’s digital landscape. By adopting a dedicated data protection law, Liberia sends a strong message to citizens, investors, development partners, and the international community that it is committed to building a digital society founded on trust, accountability, transparency, and respect for fundamental rights. This legislation will help create an enabling environment for digital innovation, strengthen investor confidence, support secure digital public services, promote responsible use of emerging technologies, and facilitate greater participation in regional and international digital cooperation. More importantly, it places the protection of individuals at the center of Liberia’s digital transformation agenda.

In recognition of this historic achievement, the Liberia Internet Governance Forum is pleased to announce that Liberia IGF 2026 will officially launched the My Data Liberia Initiative, a national awareness and advocacy campaign dedicated to promoting data privacy, personal data protection, digital rights, and responsible data governance across Liberia. The My Data Liberia Initiative will serve as a multi-stakeholder platform to:

• Raise nationwide awareness about the rights and responsibilities established under the Data Protection Act.
• Empower citizens to understand, manage, and protect their personal information.
• Promote privacy-by-design and responsible data management practices across public and private institutions.
• Support digital literacy and data protection education for youth, women, businesses, civil society, and government institutions.
• Foster dialogue on ethical data governance, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging digital technologies.
• Encourage collaboration among policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, academia, civil society, and the technical community to strengthen Liberia’s data governance ecosystem.

The official launch of the My Data Liberia Initiative during Liberia IGF 2026 was done by the Executive Director of IIC Madam Lorpu Page symbolizing the country’s transition from adopting data protection legislation to cultivating a national culture of privacy, accountability, and responsible digital citizenship. The Liberia Internet Governance Forum remains committed to supporting the effective implementation of the Data Protection Act through policy dialogue, public education, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based advocacy. As Liberia continues its digital transformation journey, the Forum believes that safeguarding personal data will be fundamental to fostering innovation, strengthening democratic governance, protecting human rights, and unlocking the full potential of the country’s digital economy. The Liberia IGF congratulates the Government of Liberia, the National Legislature, Senator Francis Saidy Dopoh II, public institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, the technical community, and all stakeholders whose collective efforts have made this historic achievement possible. Together, we celebrate this milestone and reaffirm our shared commitment to building a secure, inclusive, trusted, and rights-respecting digital future for every Liberian.