Attorney General Ahmed Usham announced on Wednesday that his office will submit a bill to the People’s Majlis aimed at protecting personal data, with the legislation expected to reach Parliament within the next two to three days.
Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office, Usham said the Attorney General’s Office has been working on the Data Protection Bill for an extended period and that the drafting process is now in its final stages.
According to Usham, the bill seeks to establish a transparent and accountable framework for the collection, processing, and use of personal information belonging to the public. The proposed legislation will also define the responsibilities of entities that collect and process personal data, and set out the regulatory standards governing them.
The Attorney General noted that the bill has been developed with technical assistance from various international partners.
Three additional bills under Maldives 2.0
Usham also confirmed that his office is preparing three additional bills as part of the government’s “Maldives 2.0” digitalisation agenda.
The first is a Digital Transformation Bill, under which a new entity called Maldives Digital Service will be established to oversee digital service delivery across the country. A separate Digital Identity Bill is also being readied for submission to Parliament.
The third is a Cybersecurity Bill. Usham said the legislation is intended to strengthen the security of the nation’s cyber environment and to set out the requirements that must be met by systems linked to critical infrastructure in both the public and private sectors. Under the proposed law, a dedicated Cybersecurity Agency will be established.
The Attorney General did not provide a specific timeline for the submission of the three additional bills.
