Chair, the Protection of Personal Information Bill was introduced in 2009 and adopted in the National Assembly on 12 September 2012. The Bill aims to give effect to the right to privacy by introducing measures to ensure that the personal information of an individual is safeguarded when it is processed by responsible parties. The Bill also aims to balance the right to privacy against other rights, particularly the right to access of information, and to generally protect important interests, including the free flow of information within and across the borders of the Republic.
The aims of the Bill are: to introduce information protection principles so as to establish minimum requirements for the processing of personal information; to provide for the establishment of an information production regulator; to provide for the issuing of codes of conduct; to provide for the rights of persons regarding unsolicited electronic communications and automated decision-making; and to regulate the flow of personal information across the borders of the Republic.
The Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development decided to pass the Bill with minor amendments.
Debate concluded.
Bill, subject to proposed amendments, agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.