NAIROBI (HALBEEG)- Kenya’s ICT Ministry has drafted a Bill to create safeguards for data held by companies and government agencies in the midst of growing concerns about the safety of personal data.
The Kenya Data Protection Bill 2018 lays down rules on how personal information can be collected, used, shared and stored by data handlers, and prescribes a fine of $50,000 or a five-year jail term for those who contravene the provisions.
Data controllers will have to seek an individual’s consent before collecting, processing, sharing or storing their data, and inform them about the cost, intended purpose, extent and period of use.
“A data controller or data processor shall bear the burden of proof for establishing a data subject’s consent to the processing of his personal data for a specified purpose,” the draft states.
Common elements of modern data protection and privacy laws such as liability of data controllers and endorses the right to correction or to be forgotten, allowing individuals to demand correction or deletion of their data by an agency, are included in the draft.
Rafe Mazer, regulation lead at FSD Kenya, said the Bill is comprehensive and favours the consumer. “If approved, it will ensure proper data protection in Kenya,” he said.
source: www.theeastafrican.co.ke
Discussion about this post