Data protection law in two months

Data Protection Bill which provides measures to protect an individual’s personal data held by banks, telecom companies, hospitals and other institutions will be presented to Parliament within two months, Non-cabinet Minister of Digital Infrastructure and Information Technology, Ajith P. Perera said yesterday.

He told a news conference that using data pertaining to individuals for wrongful purposes will be restricted under this law.“the new legislation will impose restrictions on banks, telecom companies and even hospitals using data for any purpose without the consent of the individual concerned,” the non-cabinet minister said.

He said the new legislation will not restrict the right of the people to obtain information guaranteed under the Right to Information Act.“data Protection law will actually make the Right to Information Act more effective,” the Non-cabinet minister said.

He said the new legislation is still in the drafting stage and that the People’s views on the new legislation will be called for on July 27, at Cinnamon Grand Hotel.

“Under the framework of the new legislation, the new law will protect those who are domiciled in Sri Lanka and the ordinary citizen. Personal data could be collected only for a specified purpose and not for any other matter that is incompatible with the said purposes.

However processing data in public interest, scientific or historical research will not be considered incompatible. Data has to be processed in a manner which ensures security including protection against accidental loss, destruction or damage. Data subject shall have the right to withdraw his or her consent where the processing is done.