Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Thomas Tayebwa, has called for an update in laws related to data and privacy to address the evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and potential associated threats. Speaking at the 2024 Data Privacy Day Conference in Kampala, Tayebwa emphasized the need to amend existing legislation, enacted in 2019, to include provisions for oversight on AI applications.
| Key Points | Current Laws |
|---|---|
| Deputy Speaker’s Concerns | Existing laws on data and privacy are outdated given the rapid advancements in AI technology. |
| Legislation in Place | Uganda enacted the Data Protection and Privacy Act in 2019 to regulate the collection and processing of personal information. |
| Call for Oversight | Tayebwa urges the Personal Data Protection Office to analyze the existing law and recommend amendments to align with fourth industrial revolution technologies. |
| Minister’s Role | Suggests giving more powers to the Minister for ICT and National Guidance under regulations to handle AI-related matters efficiently. |
Tayebwa acknowledged the challenges of keeping legislation abreast of the speed of the internet and AI but stressed the importance of trying to adapt. He proposed empowering the Minister for ICT with additional regulatory authority to handle certain matters without requiring parliamentary approval.
The Deputy Speaker highlighted the urgency of protecting Ugandans against digital threats, including misinformation and commercial espionage. He emphasized the need for concerted efforts to enhance cybersecurity.
Minister for ICT, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, assured that personal data collected by the government would be safeguarded and used only for official and beneficial purposes. Dr Baryomunsi also announced plans for a new registration exercise to issue new or updated National Identification Cards later in the year, aiming to address data duplication concerns.
