Anti-money laundering and personal data protection in the insurance sector: A unified compliance guide in preparation

However, according to Mr Benmicia, quoted by APS, new challenges relating to data security, transparency and protection are emerging. The UAR is committed to addressing these challenges through the launch of ongoing training and awareness programmes aimed at establishing a responsible approach to personal data protection, as well as organising several specialist meetings on this subject. In this context, the UAR recently created a commission specialising in anti-money laundering and personal data protection compliance, tasked with developing a general framework and a unified compliance guide.

For his part, Samir Bourhil, President of the National Authority for the Protection of Personal Data, said that the resources made available by the State provide an opportunity to build a pioneering national model that reconciles digital innovation and privacy protection in the insurance sector. This makes personal data protection one of the pillars of technological progress.

According to Mr Bourhil, quoted by APS, data management and privacy protection are no longer secondary issues, but are now at the heart of the "pact of trust" on which the social contract of modern societies is based, the official said, pointing out that the insurance sector has an "increased responsibility" as the custodian of millions of pieces of personal data, which places it at the forefront of institutions concerned with protecting them against cyber risks, data leaks and unauthorised access.

Furthermore, in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Director of Studies, Serhane Atroune, the Secretary General of the National Insurance Council (CNA), Abdelhakim Benbouabdellah, stated that the use of AI is not without risks, particularly in terms of security, confidentiality, identity theft and the spread of false or misleading information, calling for this technology to be used to address challenges in compliance with current legislation. Concerning Law 18-07, he indicated that, as soon as the text was promulgated, the CNA had contacted all insurance market operators subject to its provisions to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance.

"Significant growth momentum," according to the UAR

The insurance sector has seen "significant growth" this year, particularly in personal insurance, which has posted "double-digit growth, said Abdelhakim Berrah, general delegate of the Algerian Union of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies (UAR), yesterday in Algiers. Quoted by APS on the sidelines of a meeting devoted to issues related to the protection of personal data in the insurance sector, Mr Berrah stressed that the current year has "marked a significant turning point for personal insurance, while the property and casualty insurance sector continues to grow at a pace broadly in line with that of the national economy, despite the existence of growth drivers that are still insufficiently exploited". For Mr Berrah, the new insurance bill currently being prepared by the government should "give new impetus to the sector, in particular through the development of Insurtechs and the creation of an independent authority to supervise insurance activities".

Domestic trade: Open doors to money laundering risks

The Ministry of Internal Trade and National Market Regulation is organising open days at the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Wilaya, starting today, dedicated to the results of the assessment of risks related to the exploitation of legal entities for money laundering and terrorist financing purposes. This was announced in a press release issued by the ministry yesterday. These open days will provide an opportunity for the National Trade Register Centre, through its local branches, to assist legal entities (commercial companies, civil companies, associations, non-profit organisations and private wakfs) in completing the procedures relating to the declaration of beneficial owners, in accordance with the provisions of Law 25-10 of 24 July 2025, amending and supplementing Law 05-01 of 6 February 2005 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorist financing. The Ministry stated in its press release that "all material and human resources have been mobilised to ensure the smooth running of these two important operations".