The framework
Ethiopia regulates personal data through the Personal Data Protection Proclamation No. 1321/2024, supervised by the Ethiopian Communications Authority.
For advertisers the consent posture matters most, and Ethiopia sits in the opt-in bloc, where tracking and outreach need permission up front.
Key instruments
Personal Data Protection Proclamation No. 1321/2024
Ethiopia adopted its first comprehensive law in 2024, a milestone for one of Africa's largest previously unregulated markets. The Ethiopian Communications Authority supervises it and requires data handlers to register and obtain licences, though implementing directives are still thin.
Marketing and advertising
Consent-first with GDPR-influenced bases and rights. Most channel decisions here follow from that consent rule.
Cross-border transfers
Adequacy or safeguard based, with localization options for sensitive categories.
Enforcement and penalties
The law provides for administrative fines and criminal penalties.