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I. Introduction In this post, we examine the data governance framework of Vietnam. We discuss: grounds of processing data and the obligations imposed on organisations (II);rights guaranteed to individuals (III); rules governing cross-border data flows (IV);the penal and enforcement framework (V); and the exemptions given to state agencies (VI). Part VII concludes. Although the ConstitutionRead more

1. Introduction In the previous post, we examined the data governance framework in Singapore, an active player in the APAC region. In this post, we unpack Japan’s data protection framework, from the perspective of: grounds of processing data and the obligations imposed on organisations (II);rights guaranteed to individuals (III); rules governing cross-border data flows (IV);theRead more

Context Democracies across the world are grappling with the twin problems of hate speech and disinformation. The internet, as a common platform for communication, has been weaponised to spread a concoction of untruths, abuse and biases with far-ranging consequences. The European Union is of the view that these phenomena, if left unchecked, have the potentialRead more

I. Introduction In the previous post, we examined the data governance framework in Australia. In this post, we examine the data governance framework of another country in the APAC region, namely Singapore, from the perspective of: data processing obligations (II);rights guaranteed to individuals (III); rules governing cross-border data flows (IV);the penal and enforcement framework (V);Read more

I. Introduction In the previous post we examined the applicable data governance frameworks in the APAC region, with a specific focus on the Osaka Declaration. The success of the Osaka Declaration depends on different APAC countries adopting a common framework of data governance rules. In this post, we examine the data governance framework in Australia,Read more

Digital identity programs in jurisdictions with weak privacy regulations face the risk of commodification, breach and misuse. This risk is exacerbated when governments link digital identity with citizenship, voting rights, public services, and employment. This piece discusses Kenya’s digital identity program, Huduma Namba. Huduma Namba Kenya’s Huduma Namba, meaning service number in Swahili, is aRead more

I. Introduction The Asia-Pacific, or APAC region, comprising of countries such as Australia, China, India, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam,[1] has the largest number of internet users in the world, at around 2.1 billion.[2] The region also accounts for 64% of the global e-commerce sales.[3] For a variety of cultural, political, and economic reasons, theRead more

Cryptocurrencies, or digital currencies secured using encryption techniques, have seized the imagination of a motley crew of anti-capitalists, financial experts and computer scientists. At the same time, cryptocurrencies operate outside the purview of central banks and have created a regulatory conundrum for governments. Regulation of this digital currency in Africa has been varied, with someRead more

Nigeria enjoys a diversified banking sector where the universal banking model followed by its largest banks is complemented by the development of merchant banks, mobile payments, microfinance, and mobile money agents, all driven by the goal of financial inclusion. Financial inclusion, or access to financial products in the formal sector (savings accounts, pension schemes, insuranceRead more

Access to telecommunication networks has acquired a distinct strategic lilt in modern conflicts. It is unsurprising, therefore, that the Libyan civil war beginning in 2011 had a marked adverse impact on the country’s digital and communications networks. Communications networks between the rebel-held eastern territories of Libya and the then Gaddafi-controlled west were repeatedly severed, withRead more