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Wednesday, 8 August 2018

Cabinet signs off on Data Protection Act

CABINET WATCH- The Madbouly Cabinet signed off yesterday on a draft Data Protection Act, which is meant to set the ground rules for the handling and processing of personal information online and otherwise, according to an official statement. The bill, which will be presented to the House of Representatives at the start of the fall legislative term, makes it mandatory for companies to obtain users’ prior approval for data sharing, setting prison terms of at least one year and fines of EGP 100k-1 mn for violations and data breaches. It also includes provision to guarantees users’ right to access their private data at any time. We had previously heard that the new act would also give users the right to take legal action against parties responsible for data breaches and misuses of private information,

Data protection officers with powers of arrest? The law will also establish a data protection unit inside the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), whose members will be appointed by the Justice Minister and given powers of arrest, the statement said. The center will be responsible for implementing the law, as well as setting strategies, policies, and systems for data protection.

Also approved at yesterday’s weekly cabinet meeting:

  • A decision allowing the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to invest EGP 600 mn in state-owned Silicon Waha;
  • A decision to award the military-owned El Nasr Co. For Services & Maintenance (Queen Service) a one-year contract to clean and service the historical sites around the Giza Pyramids.
  • The allocation of state-owned land in downtown Alexandria to the Electricity Holding Company to build a transformer station.

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