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Kiribati's First-of-its-Kind Data Protection Bill Passes First Reading
Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin Editor
Kiribati legislators unanimously passed a first-of-its-kind Data Protection Bill during its first reading in parliament on Tuesday.
The bill's author, former education minister and now information, communications, and transport minister Alexander Teabo told RNZ Pacific that protecting public information is the aim of his proposal.
He said personal information gathered by government officials in the health sector is an example of the type of data that would be protected under his proposed bill.
"There are many things happening now in the digital world, and the names of our people are [being] used," Teabo said.
"There are services that need our identity, names, and information. But they want their names [to] be protected."
Kiribati uses ID (identification) cards and has many systems in which citizens are expected to give up their personal information.
However, there has been no law to protect that data.
The Data Protection Bill is an attempt to change that and "protect our people", Teabo said.
"Those who control that the data should not misuse it."
He said the Data Protection Bill shares similarities with the Australia and New Zealand's privacy acts.
"As Kiribati advances digitally, we recognise the importance of safeguarding our citizens' personal data."
The bill is now set to proceed to its second reading in the next session, and Teabo is hopeful that it will become law soon after.
He said other countries have laws in place protecting their citizens' government-gathered data, and Kiribati is just following suit.
When asked how important the new legislation was, first-time Kiribati MP Ruth Cross Kwansing said it was "crucial".
"It builds trust in digital services, protects citizens, and enables economic growth," Kwansing said.
"It is a law to protect people's personal information online and in databases."
She said if the bill becomes law, it will give people rights over their data and ensure organisations keep it safe, building trust in digital services.
"Our Ministry retains highly sensitive data of Kiribati's most vulnerable citizens through our social protection programs," Kwansing, who is the Minister for Women, Youth, and Social Affairs, said.
"Robust data protection is critical to maintain trust and ensure their well-being."
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