Protecting Privacy and Personal Data Key to Digital Economy in Africa, says Internet Society

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Today at the Africa Internet Summit in Dakar, Senegal, the Internet Society and the African Union Commission unveiled a new set of Guidelines that highlight how privacy protection and the responsible use of personal data are critical factors in building greater trust online and in advancing the digital economy in Africa.
The Personal Data Protection Guidelines for Africa launched today were jointly developed by theInternet Society  a global non-profit organization that promotes the open development, evolution and use of the Internet and the African Union Commission to facilitate the implementation of the AU’s Convention on Cyber Security and Data Protection (known as the Malabo Convention), adopted in 2014.
The Guidelines recommend a range of actions for governments, policy makers, citizens and other stakeholders to take at the regional, national, organizational and individual level. Among the key recommendations for governments is that they should respect and protect individuals’ rights to privacy online and offline.
“Recent global events have showed us that the lack of appropriate protection for personal data can have a profound impact not just on individuals but also on society at large, to the point of endangering democratic systems,” said Dawit Bekele, African Regional Bureau Director for the Internet Society. “These Guidelines explain how people can take a more active role in the protection of their own data as well as the role that other stakeholders, including governments and legislators, have in ensuring the proper use of data.”