House endorses personal data protection bill

Addis Ababa, April 4, 2024 (FBC) – The House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPR) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia deliberated upon and ratified the Personal Data Protection Proclamation during its 20th ordinary session today.

Note that the aforementioned bill was forwarded to the parliament for ratification by the Council of Ministers in its 25th regular session held on October 27, 2023.

It is believed that this development signifies a significant stride in Ethiopia’s digital transformation and underscores the country’s commitment to expeditiously fostering an inclusive and secure digital economy.

According to HoPR’s Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, Employment, and Technology Affairs, the proclamation plays a vital role in establishing a robust personal data protection framework by designating a supervisory body for personal data protection.

It is emphasized that the draft proclamation was formulated due to the increasing significance of collecting personal data and the expanding role of processing such data gathered in the course of digital service provision for social and economic development.

The standing committee noted the necessity of enacting a personal data protection proclamation to regulate the infringement of personal data rights in the collection and processing of data.

It was highlighted that the proclamation is vital for offering efficient remedies for personal data breaches, mitigating risks linked to data processing, and fostering a culture of accountable data processing.

In the past, the absence of legislation outlining personal data rights in Ethiopia and the lack of a dedicated supervisory institution for personal data protection led to the absence of a robust personal data protection system, it was indicated.

Thus, it is said that it is necessary to issue a proclamation to control the violation of personal data rights during the collection and processing of data.

The Standing Committee also recalled that discussions were held previously with the public and relevant stakeholders on the draft proclamation.

During deliberations, parliamentarians stressed the importance of ensuring that the interpretations and language used in the proclamation align with the country’s constitution and existing laws.

Following an extensive discussion, the House approved the bill as Proclamation No. 1321/2016, with one objection and a majority vote, marking a significant step towards enhancing personal data protection in Ethiopia.