A diverse panel spanning ministers, vice ministers,
regulators and representatives from international organizations across the
globe exchanged views on privacy, data and the wider digital transformation.
Moderator Malcolm Johnson, Deputy Secretary
General, ITU opened debate by asking panellists about the challenges of
ushering in the digital transformation, privacy and planning for future.
In Mali,
the digital economy has become an integral part of the government’s future
planning. In privacy terms, however, the government is still grappling with a
number of challenges, including how to protect the privacy of citizens who
barely understand, in certain cases, why technology is even likely to be
beneficial to them. As a part of its planning for the
future, explained Kamissa Camara, Minister, Ministère de l’Economie numérique et de la
Communication, the government has to first build awareness, so that citizens
understand the basics of technology and its potential impact. Until this
understanding and awareness has been established “data protection takes the
back seat,” she explained.
Iraq faces major setbacks in keeping up with the progress the rest of the world has encountered during the past 40 years, following 4 devastating wars and 14 years of crippling sanctions. Despite this hardship, the country has “embarked upon and continue a process of digital transformation of our society, government, and economy.” explained Naeem Th. Yousir, Iraq’s Minister of Communications. This has resulted in 90% mobile penetration rate, with over 19 million internet connected. The government has plans to cover 82% of households with FTTH and is also in the process of introducing 4G, as well as a host of other e-government services such as digital certificates and signatures as well as registrations of births and deaths and looking into registration of real estate, other assets as well as companies. The government also sees GDPR is an important step in the right direction for protecting personal data. The world community will benefit from adopting a common standard for data protection, which GDPR can be the initial template, he explained.
Lack of
trust among citizens is a key challenge for Zimbabwe, and concerns about data
security stand in the way of trust. Citizens can be unwilling to interact with
digital devices, a major barrier to adoption of new services. A lack of
legislation is also an issue, as the government needs to “connect legislation
with consumer data protection, ” explained Kazembe Kazembe, Zimbabwe’s Minister
of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services. But even
with legislation in place, “how enforceable are these, and how detectable is no
data compliance?” he asked. The answers are centrally coordinated ICT
initiatives, such as ECOWAS, and, crucially, the correct policy and
legislation. “Policy and legislation are key mechanisms governments should
pursue in order to address trust and security in digital transformation,”he
explained.
Three
aspects go hand in hand for digital transformation in North Macedonia. First,
legislation – and here the country has just adopted a raft of laws in areas
such as network and critical infrastructure. Then, the right technology needs
to be adopted, and lastly consumers need to be educated and motivated to use
services such as e-services or electronic identity. These three require input
not just from governments but other stakeholders too. “Governments need
cooperation with the industry, civil society – the institutions themselves
cannot do this,” explained Damjan Manchevski, Minister, Ministry of Information
Society and Administration, North Macedonia.
For Elmir
Tofig Oglu Velizadeh, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transport, Communications
and High Technologies, Azerbaijan, a key challenge is the processes for
collecting and using data efficiently as we move into an age of big data,
particularly as data is generated by more and more devices. The right skillset
is also need to interpret this data.
“Technology
assists us to improve service delivery, but it also makes us plan better,”
explained Pinky Kekana, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Communications and Digital
Technologies, South Africa. Having the capacity to plan, build and be
responsive to people is crucial. Here, modernization of services such as health
has generated more useful data, which has helped with future planning.
Nevertheless, ensuring the data is safely stored is also a key priority for
governments.
For
Singapore, ensuring trust is crucial in a digital transformation, but an
increase in data breaches has eroded this. Keng Thai Leong, Deputy Chief
Executive, Singapore’s InfoComm Media Development Authority also noted the
common concern, echoed in a number of Forum sessions, of the regulatory
balancing act; not “stifling” innovation with regulation on the one hand,
whilst still protecting the needs of consumers on the other. Here laws compelling
data localization are a good example: they protect consumers but could also
potentially undermine startup innovation relying on data localization. In terms
of governance and ethics on use of data, decisions taken must be transparent,
fair and most of all human-centric. He highlighted the challenge of cross
border data flows as one area where stakeholders need to come together, and
find innovative policy solutions.
With 1.2bn
mobile users and 600m internet users, India has a vibrant data market. The
Indian government’s Digital India policy has focused first on getting the
infrastructure in place, as connectivity is so essential for any digital growth.
For Ram Sewak Sharma, Chairman of India’s TRAI, digital identity is at the base
of establishing digital trust. He cited three Cs essential for successful
digital transactions: cost, convenience and confidence. Users need to be
empowered to control their own data, he told delegates. “Let me not talk about
how my data can be misused but how I can use my data,” he said. The concept of
data “portability”- controlling and managing one’s own data – is to be placed into
new data protection laws, as “the person who owns the data is the empowered guy,”
he explained.
Today,
pressing high-level issues such as climate change, unsustainable consumption as
well as privacy and security are high on the global agenda, but for Luis Neves,
CEO, GeSI these are all interconnected, and he feels that technology will have
the answer to many of these challenges.
Comprising
developed countries, LDCs and LLDs, the Commonwealth countries each have different
levels of development, although one key challenge for all is connectivity, said
Gisa Fuatai Purcell, Acting Secretary General and director, ICT development CTO.
Privacy is a concern, but CTO also sees
a lack of awareness that data is “information, an asset and should be protected.”
Users need to feel safe that their data is secure, but one challenge for
governments is monitoring to ensure that organizations store it safely.
Johnson
asked for final words from the panel on some of the key themes which had
cropped up in the session including collaboration, awareness and regulatory balance.
ITU and a
number of other key national and regional organizations already help countries
forge effective frameworks and share codes of good practice, noted panelists.
For Zimbabwe, a harmonization of the laws and regulations governing data
protection are essential moving forward. North Macedonia’s Manchevski also called
for more online privacy public awareness raising campaigns.
Governments
must cooperate with all stakeholders, including the private sector, according
to Azerbaijan’s Elmir Tofig Oglu Velizadeh. No single entity can resolve major
issues such as cybersecurity alone, said Leong. Neves agreed on the need to
bring all stakeholders to the table, to develop criteria to ensure companies take
responsibility and are measured.
Summing up,
Johnson stressed the importance of dialogue between stakeholders, to move
towards harmonized regulatory frameworks, adopt the right standards and address
the delicate balance between privacy and security.
