International meet on personal data concludes

MUSCAT: The International Conference on Personal Data, organised by the Middle East Consultancy and Studies Centre, was concluded on Tuesday with the participation of a number of academics, experts and specialists in the field of personal data.

The conference recommended the speedy enactment of the Personal Data Protection Law, stressing the importance of issuing the amended electronic transactions law to replace the existing law and the importance of promoting awareness of the importance of preserving personal data.

It also recommended the importance of benefiting from the successful European experience at the level of protecting personal data in order to come up with a common vision that would establish a joint Arab action to guarantee safe cyberspace, support the development of the digital economy and promote social development.

It also recommended the inclusion of the legislations on the protection of personal data with provisions for protection from terms of compliance and conditions of exemption from liability and jurisdiction in the privacy policies used in applications, sites and programmes.

The conference also recommended the launching of a research prize for an academic thesis or scientific research and specialised study on the availability of the concept of personal data in non-material data of persons not protected by other laws.

It also recommended the balance in dealing with personal data between protection and opportunities so that the law is protecting and enabling the acceleration of modern technology policies and legislation. It also recommended keeping abreast of developments in order to optimise the opportunities available while not compromising the security aspect, in addition to revisiting the concept of privacy as a concept related to the process of controlling the collection, management and use of personal data. — ONA