ICTA on the way to release crucial laws
The Information Communication and Technology Agency (ICTA) is close to releasing several laws with regard to important digital infrastructure transformations.
With the help of relevant ministries, the ICTA, the apex ICT institution of the Government and functioning under the Ministry of Digital Infrastructure and Information Technology, drafted the Personal Data Protection Law and Cyber Security Act, its Chairman, Prof. Rohan Samarajiva says.
The law on data protection saw the ICTA following international benchmarks including Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Privacy Framework and Council of Europe Data Protection Convention. This law will be defining measures to protect personal data of individuals held by banks, telecom operators, hospitals and other personal data aggregating and processing entities and prohibit those who process personal data from sending unsolicited messages, unless the individuals have given express consent. Provisions have also been included to deal with relationships between controllers and third parties who process personal data on their behalf. Cyber Security Act, on the other hand will protect vital information and essential services from cyber attacks and will establish a new ‘Cyber Security Agency’ to identify and designate computers or computer systems which are necessary for the continuous delivery of essential services of the country as “Critical Information Infrastructure” (CII).
In an interview with the Business Times recently, Prof. Samarajiva said that these two laws are in the pipeline to go through the Cabinet. He added that translations are being completed to the draft National Digital Policy, which provides high-level principles and conceptual framework for the country to achieve sustained digital economic development and growth through the creation of an ‘Innovative Economy’ and an ‘Effective Government’. Also the regulations under the Electronic Transactions Act which will boost in e-commerce and trade have been done.
He explained that ICTA’s main activity is to find effective solutions for the government to run smoothly. “In this, any fission court system is really helpful.” He noted that Ernst & Young had done a study with regard to connecting the judicial system but it had gone to ‘cold storage’. “Now we have taken it out and for this to be a reality, the Ministry, the Judicial Services Commission and the judges, have to come together. The central challenge is to get everyone involved.” He also noted that ICTA is trying to promote the need for the ICT service in government. “Many ICT qualified recruits in government service are currently in the Census and Statistics Department. So we are now trying to give them some empowerment.”