Benin to respect AU convention on cybersecurity, protection of personal data
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) – The Beninese government says it will respect the convention of the African Union (AU) on cybersecurity and protection of personal data, indicating that all it requires to conform with the agreement is authorization from parliament to ratify it, PANA reported, quoting some parliamentary sources on Sunday
According to the sources, the Beninese executive requires from Parliament the authorization for ratification of the African Union convention on cybersecurity and the protection of personal data, as well as the Constitution and African Union convention on Telecommunications.
The convention on cybersecurity and the protection of personal data, adopted in Malabo in 2014, aims to strengthen and harmonize the present legislations of member States and the regional communities in terms of information and communications (ITCs), regarding respect for fundamental liberties, as well as human and peoples’ rights.
It also aims to establish appropriate normative framework that corresponds with the African judicial, cultural, economic and social environment. In that respect, it underlines that the protection of personal data and private life is a major challenge for the information society.
The said convention states that any treatment of personal data must respect a balance between fundamental liberties, promotion and use of ICTs, interests of public and private actors.
By ratifying the constitution and the AU convention of Telecommunications, adopted respectively in the South African city of Cape in 1999 and Harare in 2014, Benin will promote the quick development of telecommunications on its territory to achieve access to universal service, as well as total connection with the other countries, while integrating further the operations of the private sector in the development process of telecommunications in Africa.
-0- PANA IT/TBM/MSA/VAO 16Aug2020
