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protection of personal information actlatest news & developments
AFRICAN GIANT: Given its unique position in terms of technological advancement, South Africa stands to be the industry leader on the continent. Photo: Freepik
AI

How South Africa can shape the continent’s digital future

As one of Africa’s most industrialised and connected economies, the country is in a unique position to lead by example by building a tech ecosystem that benefits everyone

  • Tracy Tafirenyika
4 min read
Surveillance technology is increasingly being used to monitor civilians.
ACTIVISTS

Digital occupation: How surveillance technologies repress dissent from Gaza to Cape Town

This creeping form of observation marks a dangerous evolution in how power is exercised and dissent controlled

  • Sõzarn Barday
4 min read
South African Local Government Association submission to parliament admitted that only 28% of municipalities had implemented minimum Protection of Personal Information Act compliance requirements by mid-2023. Photo: Reuters
INFORMATION REGULATOR OF SOUTH AFRICA

Digital trust at risk: Are municipalities able to protect our personal data?

Residents deserve to know that the information shared with their municipality is securely stored and will not be leaked, sold or weaponised

  • Lesedi Senamele Matlala
7 min read
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Justice department to challenge R5 million fine in court

The department missed the deadline for appealing the fine imposed by the Information Regulator for failing to comply with the Popi Act

  • Emsie Ferreira
4 min read
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola. (Brenton Geach/Gallo Images and Phill Magakoe/ Gallo Images)
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Information regulator fines justice department R5 million

The department missed a deadline imposed by the regulator to renew licences for antivirus software systems

  • Emsie Ferreira
2 min read
This is a call to inform people about the law to initiate change. (Getty Images)
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

This is a call to inform people about the law to initiate change

The government, civil society organisations and public and private institutions need to take the initiative

  • Sibongile Khosa
4 min read
The high court in Pretoria has granted an application by matric learner Anlé Spies, lobby group AfriForum and Maroela Media to compel the department of basic education to have last year’s matric examination results published in newspapers.
AFRIFORUM

Court rules matric results will be published in the media

Court grants AfriForum’s application to compel the department of basic education to publish matric results in newspapers and online platforms

  • Marcia Zali
2 min read
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Biden said the Colonial fuel pipeline that was shuttered by a ransomware attack last week is fully operational again, but asked Americans for patience and warned gas stations against price-gouging. Photographer: T.J. Kirkpatrick/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images
CISCO

The White House opens a new era of cybersecurity

South Africa, too, is vulnerable to cyber attacks and needs to take steps to secure its digital futur

  • Stephen Kreusch
4 min read
Security concerns: A health worker fills out individuals’ Covid documents, a lengthy process. Now apps are being used to contact trace people a patient may have come into contact with. (Michele Spatari/AFP)
CONTACT TRACING

Tracking, tracing and transparency

Governments are processing tons of personal information to limit the spread of Covid-19. They must ensure this does not cost us our privacy

  • Robyn Pasensie
  • Isäm Bartlett
6 min read
The United Nations special rapporteur on data and privacy protection says South Africa is dragging its feet behind other countries when it comes to implementing legislation that is supposed to safeguard the personal information of citizens.
DATA PRIVACY

South Africa must implement privacy laws to protect citizens, says UN expert

The UN says South Africa lags behind the rest of the world when it comes to implementing measures to keep private information safe from governments and corporations

  • Lester Kiewit
3 min read
There is little to celebrate the state of the of access to information in South Africa
ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Democracies die behind closed doors: Battling for the right to know

Avoidance and refusal have become default settings in government as requests for more information are routinely ignored.

  • Piers Pigou
5 min read