LEGISLATION WATCH- Tech giants are lobbying against prison terms in the draft Data Protection Act: Global tech giants have asked the House of Representatives to replace prison terms with fines under the draft Data Protection Act, saying failure to make the change could discourate investment in Egypt, Al Mal reported. Representatives from Google, Facebook, Twitter, MasterCard, Microsoft, Vodafone, Etisalat, and Orange, among others, made the request during a meeting this week with the House CIT Committee and CIT Minister Amr Talaat. The committee preliminarily approved last month the draft Data Protection Act after the Madbouly Cabinet completed its final review of the proposed legislation.

Background: The bill would, if passed, make it mandatory for businesses to obtain user approval to share personal data or face prison terms and fines. The draft also draws a line between what it defines broadly as “personal data” and what it considers sensitive information. Data considered sensitive includes information revealing people’s mental, physical, or genetic conditions, as well as their biometric data and religious or political affiliations.