Data protection bill returns to parliament
• Bill a ‘cornerstone’ of digital governance strategy
IPPR researcher Frederico Links said the public has not yet seen the latest version of the bill, which he hopes addresses concerns raised two years ago that it fell short of best practice in some aspects.
Iréne-Mari van der WaltWindhoek
About 12 years after work on the draft data protection bill first began, it is expected to be tabled in parliament again next month.
This, according to information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus, who was speaking at the Standard Bank conference on financial crime in Windhoek last week.
However, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) researcher Frederico Links last week said he hopes the issues highlighted by the IPPR in 2023 are addressed in the latest version of the bill.
“We have not yet seen whether any amendments have been made to the bill discussed in 2023. Until we have reviewed the latest version, our concerns remain the same as in 2023 – that it does not adequately address the rights of data subjects, like you and me,” Links said.
Links explained that a section of a previous version of the bill, which addressed this issue, was removed in 2020 and has not yet been substantially reintroduced in the latest version of the bill, as far as he is aware.
“Our concern is that it may fall short compared with best practice. However, we hope to still contribute once the bill is tabled. But when a bill is tabled, it usually means it is on the fast track to coming into effect,” he said.
Data protectionLast week, the minister explained that the bill is “a cornerstone of Namibia’s digital governance strategy. It will ensure that personal data is protected, privacy is respected and digital transactions are secure.”
She added that in addition to safeguarding individual rights, the bill will strengthen public trust in digital platforms, create a safer environment for online business and align Namibia with international best practices on data protection.
“It will also support innovation by providing clear guidelines for the ethical use of data, empowering both public institutions and private enterprises to use technology responsibly,” Theofelus added.
Financial crime
At the conference, Theofelus said the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) froze more than N$96.9 million during the past financial year, reportedly representing profits from illegal activities.
Over the same period, the FIC joined forces with the Namibian police and the Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia (ACC) to investigate 148 cases, identifying 50 victims and 128 persons of interest.
“Financial crimes, including fraud, money laundering and embezzlement, account for a significant portion of economic losses, affecting both the public and private sectors,” she said.
Government originally intended to regulate financial transactions and data protection under a single law but in 2019 decided to separate the draft financial intelligence bill from the draft data protection bill.
The financial intelligence bill has since been enacted and is now known as the Financial Intelligence Act of 2012. The FIC was established under this law.
Theofelus also said government plans to roll out electronic signatures in February next year under the Electronic Transactions Act of 2019.
“These signatures will carry the same legal weight as handwritten signatures, enabling secure, efficient and legally binding digital transactions.”
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About 12 years after work on the draft data protection bill first began, it is expected to be tabled in parliament again next month.
This, according to information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus, who was speaking at the Standard Bank conference on financial crime in Windhoek last week.
However, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) researcher Frederico Links last week said he hopes the issues highlighted by the IPPR in 2023 are addressed in the latest version of the bill.
“We have not yet seen whether any amendments have been made to the bill discussed in 2023. Until we have reviewed the latest version, our concerns remain the same as in 2023 – that it does not adequately address the rights of data subjects, like you and me,” Links said.
Links explained that a section of a previous version of the bill, which addressed this issue, was removed in 2020 and has not yet been substantially reintroduced in the latest version of the bill, as far as he is aware.
“Our concern is that it may fall short compared with best practice. However, we hope to still contribute once the bill is tabled. But when a bill is tabled, it usually means it is on the fast track to coming into effect,” he said.
Data protectionLast week, the minister explained that the bill is “a cornerstone of Namibia’s digital governance strategy. It will ensure that personal data is protected, privacy is respected and digital transactions are secure.”
She added that in addition to safeguarding individual rights, the bill will strengthen public trust in digital platforms, create a safer environment for online business and align Namibia with international best practices on data protection.
“It will also support innovation by providing clear guidelines for the ethical use of data, empowering both public institutions and private enterprises to use technology responsibly,” Theofelus added.
Financial crime
At the conference, Theofelus said the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) froze more than N$96.9 million during the past financial year, reportedly representing profits from illegal activities.
Over the same period, the FIC joined forces with the Namibian police and the Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia (ACC) to investigate 148 cases, identifying 50 victims and 128 persons of interest.
“Financial crimes, including fraud, money laundering and embezzlement, account for a significant portion of economic losses, affecting both the public and private sectors,” she said.
Government originally intended to regulate financial transactions and data protection under a single law but in 2019 decided to separate the draft financial intelligence bill from the draft data protection bill.
The financial intelligence bill has since been enacted and is now known as the Financial Intelligence Act of 2012. The FIC was established under this law.
Theofelus also said government plans to roll out electronic signatures in February next year under the Electronic Transactions Act of 2019.
“These signatures will carry the same legal weight as handwritten signatures, enabling secure, efficient and legally binding digital transactions.”
[email protected]
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