The Ethiopian House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards safeguarding personal data with the endorsement of the Personal Data Protection Bill. The bill was reviewed and approved during the 20th regular meeting of the 3rd parliamentary session, with one objection and a majority vote.

Dr. Negeri Lencho, Chairman of the Standing Committee responsible for the bill, emphasized the thorough scrutiny it underwent. He stressed the importance of establishing a robust system to effectively regulate the collection and processing of personal data.

The proclamation aims to mitigate risks associated with data processing and bring Ethiopia's data protection framework closer to international standards. However, the approval process wasn't without debate. Council members raised concerns regarding specific amendments. They argued for ensuring alignment with existing laws. Discussions also arose around the proposed doubling of penalties for data breaches, with calls for in-depth legal and professional evaluations.

Source: Addis Zemen

Image source: HPR