Monrovia, Liberia – Over 50 stakeholders, including government officials, representatives from the media, civil society organizations, the education sector, and the diplomatic corps, on Tuesday in Monrovia, validated a draft legislation on Personal Data Privacy and Protection.
By: Siaway T. Miapue- [email protected], contributing writer
Developed by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MoPT) with support from Internews under the European Union-funded Liberia Media Empowerment Project (LMEP), the legislation aims to provide a comprehensive legal framework for collecting, processing, storing, and protecting personal data in Liberia.
The Monrovia validation follows a similar forum conducted in Ganta, Nimba County last weekend, and moves the legislation one step closer to becoming a law.
In his opening remarks, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Sekou M. Kromah, emphasized the importance of personal data protection in the digital age. “As we move towards a more digitized society, we must establish a robust legal framework to protect the privacy of our citizens,” the Minister stated. “This legislation is not just about compliance; it is about fostering trust among users and ensuring that their rights are protected, ” he said. Also speaking, the European Union Ambassador to Liberia, Nona Deprez, outlined the risks posed by the absence of a data protection framework in Liberia, including erosion of trust in institutions, discrimination, disinformation, and legal uncertainty. She also noted that lack of regulation can impede innovation and international trade while exposing the youth to exploitation, particularly through social media misuse. “Freedom of the press is a must in any democracy, but there must be a balance between journalistic practices and personal data protection, especially concerning children and vulnerable populations,” the EU Ambassador cautioned
Ambassador Deprez highlighted the critical role of strong data protection in modern governance and democracy. “The EU has the strongest data protection rules in the world because we recognize that protection of personal data is a fundamental right,” she said. “It is key to surviving in the digital reality of today and the future,” she added.
From left to right: Chairman of the Independent Information Commission (IIC), EU Ambassador to Liberia and Minister of Post and Telecommunications.
During the review, key actors in the data value chain actively engaged the session and shared insights and recommendations to enhance the draft, highlighting the need for clarity in the definitions of personal data and the rights of data subjects.
The participants also emphasized the need for public education on the subject matter, and steps the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications along with partners is taking to safeguard citizens personal data. Dr. Srivaramangai, the Rector/headmaster of the BlueCrest University College highlighted the gap in awareness, stating, “not many people are aware of this initiative, nor do they know that the violation of personal privacy is a rights issue.” This sentiment was echoed by others, who stressed the importance of educating citizens about their data rights and protection mechanisms.
Following the review, officials of the MoPT and Internews committed to incorporating inputs gathered from stakeholders during both validation fora, before forwarding the draft legislation to the Law Reform Commission for final review and onward submission to the Legislature for passage into law.
MoPT’s head of Project Management, D. Nalon Kaine, expressed gratitude for the high level of engagement during the validation process. “We have been struggling with this issue for quite some time, but your involvement has brought relief and speed to the process,” he said, thanking Internews for its continued support.
