The collection of data, i.e. customer, competitor, supplier, employee or any other personal data, is an essential part of many businesses. This is particularly relevant since the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of many businesses.
Data protection and privacy is now an integral part of supporting the knowledge and digital economies globally. These days transactions are happening online, and these transactions are nullifying traditional geographical boundaries.
Yet, most African states have limited cybersecurity and data-protection laws despite an explosion of data usage and volumes across Africa. We strive for an African data privacy ecosystem that builds broader policies that encourage innovation.
This is especially the case in data-intensive developments like artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) that would have an overall more significant economic benefit as opposed to the enactment of stringent data privacy laws by states.
The introduction of data protection and privacy legislation places a higher legal responsibility on businesses to process personal information fairly and responsibly. However, managing data does not need to undermine business practices; it should be thought of as an essential part of trusted business operations. Therefore, understanding of the importance of data management is essential for your commercial strategy and safeguarding data. We can help your business to comply with data protection legislation and to think strategically about managing your data safely.
As experts in the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act), we can help your business by providing advice and guidance concerning the security and protection requirements of your data, and help you to put measures in place to ensure that your business is compliant. We can also assist you in your off-shore data protection and privacy compliance, and to comply with cross-border the legislation, e.g. the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).