Shura Council approves draft of new, stringent privacy law

The Advisory Council (Shura) approved a draft law that stipulates more stringent procedures to protect individual’s privacy and raises the fine for violators to QR5m, reported The Peninsula.

The courts can decide the fine according to the nature of the crime.

The draft law stipulates a ban on sending any electronic message for marketing purposes without prior approval from the individuals. It includes special provisions to protect children from being exploited by cross-continental cyber crimes.

The Secretary-General of the Advisory Council presented the report of its Services and Public Facilities Committee on the draft law. After discussing the report, the Council approved it and referred back to the State Cabinet.

The draft law includes 32 articles and eight chapters. The second chapter deals with the rights of individuals and suggests that people or institutions are not allowed to use or process individual’s data without the approval of the person concerned and individuals have the right to revise their information anytime.

The draft law also includes some obligations which the owner or operator of electronic websites intended for children should adhere to.

However, there are some exceptional cases in which the authorities concerned can process some of the personal data without adhering to the provision of the law to protect national or public security, international relations, economic and financial interests of the state and to prevent crimes.

The Council’s panel held three sessions to discuss the draft law and the third was attended by Khalid Al Hashimi, assistant undersecretary for cyber security and Ibrahim bin Meem, Al Sharq reports.

Al Hashimi told the committee that the ministry started to work on the draft law since 2011 because every ministries and organizations have created their own database for individuals and employees.

“In developing this draft, we’ve taken into account the practices in some countries, especially the European Union countries which has similar laws for exchange of information.”

As Qatar is seeking to achieve knowledge economy, the draft law regulates online marketing and gives the individuals the right to protect his personal data from being misused by others without his approval.

And individuals have the right to ask the bodies concerned for additional restrictions to protect his personal data and if he thinks the existing system is not enough.

The draft law mandates ministries and other institutions to set up standards and specialization for data protection.

Courtesy: thepeninsulaqatar.com