The Right2Know campaign on Monday called on all South Africans to demand that their personal information gets proper legal protection.
Celebrating World Data Privacy Day, the information freedom lobby group said the day was a reminder that private information was not protected, despite the Protection of Personal Information Act of 2013 (the POPI Act), which would prevent personal information being abused by private companies and government agencies.
It pointed out that five years after it was signed, the law was still not in force - the result of delays in the new government watchdog, the Information Regulator, operational.
Right2Know said the Information Regulator would have the mandate to enforce POPI and step in when companies or government agencies misuse our personal info, however, they still don't have the staff, resources or systems to fulfil this mandate.
They demanded to know when South Africans will have their information protected and called on supporters to sign an online campaign demanding protection of their personal information.
https://awethu.amandla.mobi/petitions/protect-our-private-info-implement-sa-s-privacy-law
This is the reason, according to Right2Know, why the public still gets calls and messages from private companies, political parties and dodgy lenders that have bought or traded people's private information in the hopes of getting profit or votes.
What exactly is the POPI ACT?
https://www.r2k.org.za/popi-guide/
- African News Agency (ANA)
