LEGISLATION WATCH- The House of Representatives is due to vote on the Data Protection Act in a plenary session next week before sending it to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi for signature, according to Al Mal. Sources told the newspaper that some MPs are still trying to amend the controversial article that would impose a six-month prison term on non-compliance, which the reps say could discourage investors. The session should also see debate about who is exempt from the legislation after the ICT Committee agreed last week to give pass to the Central Bank of Egypt and the Financial Regulatory Authority.

Background: The 54-article bill lays out the ground rules for how businesses use personal information collected online. The bill, which was initially expected to be presented to the House last year, enshrines users’ right to access their private data at any time as well as give them the right to take legal action against parties responsible for data breaches and misuses of private information. The legislation also stipulates that a unit to protect personal data be established under the Information Technology Industry Development Agency whose members shall be selected by the Justice Minister and given powers of arrest. Check out our comprehensive breakdown of the legislation and how it may affect you and your business.