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General Legal Framework for Electronic Commerce and Electronic Signatures
Decree-Law no. 12/2024 of February 13 was approved as the General Legal Framework for Electronic Commerce and Electronic Signatures, which establishes rules to guarantee the validity of electronic contracts and records and regulates the use of electronic signatures, promoting trust and security in online transactions.

According to the law, electronic signatures must be certified by accredited entities, which must register with the competent authority. Online transactions will have the same legal validity as those carried out on paper, applying to both the public and private sectors. In addition, the principle of non-discrimination between national and foreign electronic signatures and registers will be established, thus facilitating international trade.

The supervision and application of sanctions will be the responsibility of the Information and Communication Technologies Agency I.P. (TIC TIMOR). The ordinance also aligns with international best practices, including the UNCITRAL Model Laws on Electronic Commerce, Electronic Signatures and Electronic Registries.

E-commerce plays a crucial role in economic growth and development, significantly reducing transaction costs for businesses, consumers and entities. It expands the geographical reach of commercial operations and the variety of products and services available. With transactions carried out online, both companies and consumers can access a much wider range of offers, promoting market efficiency and innovation.
 
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