Data, privacy unprotected in one-third countries including BD: UNCTAD

Around 34.0 per cent nations, including Bangladesh, across the word are yet to safeguard citizens’ data and privacy.

A new report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTD) unveiled the findings in the last week.

“Only 66.0 per cent of the nations of the world safeguard people’s data and privacy, despite an 11 percentage point increase in the adoption of data protection and privacy legislation in the period 2015-2020,” said a press statement in this regard. 

Results of a new survey on global cyber-law adoption, released on 28 April during the UNCTAD eWeek, showed that the share is even lower among least developed countries (LDCs), at only 43.0 per cent.

“Major gaps in cyber-law adoption leave consumers vulnerable during the coronavirus crisis as they access goods and services online,” cautioned UNCTAD.

The UN agency was of the view that for e-commerce to effectively support development, consumers and businesses must feel protected.

“This is especially true in these trying times, when digital tools are increasingly the only vehicle to access goods and services,” said Shamika N. Sirimanne, director of UNCTAD’s division on technology and logistics.

The survey finding showed that another 10.0 per cent of countries had draft legislations on data protection and privacy that are expected to become laws in 2020. Those include Thailand and Brazil, which have based their legislation on the European General Data Protection Regulation issued in 2018 – similar to Australia, New Zealand, Korea and South Africa.

The finding also showed that Bangladesh has legislations on electronic transaction, consumer protection and cybercrime but there is no legislation on privacy and data protection so far.

In South Asia, India has a legislation to protect privacy and data while Pakistan drafted the legislation.

Concerning data and privacy, some 66.0 per cent of countries globally have legislation. The share is 96.0 per cent in Europe, 69.0 per cent in the Americas, 57.0 per cent in Asia and the Pacific and 50.0 per cent in Africa, according to the survey findings released by UNCTAD.

It also showed that globally, 81.0 per cent of countries have an e-transaction law. Europe has the highest share (98.0pc), followed by the Americas (91.0pc). The share is lowest in Africa (61.0pc).

According to the finding, although 79.0 per cent of countries have cybercrime legislation, the share again varies widely by region: Europe has the highest (89.0pc) and Africa the lowest (72.0pc).

For consumer protection online, as per the survey findings, the global share is 56.0 per cent though the rate of adoption varies from 73.0 per cent in Europe and 72.0 per cent in the Americas to 46.0 per cent in Africa.

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