Emerging issues for Data Protection Authorities in Southern Africa

Continuing and emerging issues for Data Protection Authorities in the Southern African Development Community

Data protection has gained global importance, for various reasons. Data has been viewed as the new oil, though it is not oil, as it is non-rivalrous, and replenished unlike oil. Data has been seen as driver of economic growth, with its economic value estimated in billions, causing countries to rush towards a digital economy. Data has again been viewed as part of a fundamental right to privacy, though it is not the same as the right to privacy and albeit deserving protection as violations of personal data results in economic, social, emotional and discriminatory harms. This report does not debate or distinguish the value or importance of data but focuses on the increased efforts to protect data privacy within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, as a political and economic bloc. This report contributes to the growing literature on data protection authorities (DPA) in Africa, focusing on countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). For purpose of this report only Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Lesotho, South Africa and Mauritius are referenced and reviewed. As technology evolves, new challenges emerge, that data protection authorities are not sufficiently designed to resolve or address, and therefore their independence becomes irrelevant or insufficient, as the pressing matters are not entirely about independence, but technical, political and administrative. There are several challenges for data protection, and data protection authorities; these are automated data processing; cross border data transfers; handling of sensitive data including health related data from COVID-19; surveillance and smart cities; and data breaches. The report highlights some of the pressing needs for DPAs including financial support, administrative issues, and enforcement of decisions. The enforcement of data protection laws is dependent on the existence of a functioning data protection authority whether as a single institution or several institutions that might have shared mandates. While the absence of independent data protection authorities capable of enforcing data protection is usually the main issue of concern, there are other emerging aspects weakening the capacities of data protection authorities to advance data privacy and data protection as a fundamental right. This report makes further assertions that while independence of the data protection authority is essential, it cannot be the only issue undermining the effective protection of data privacy in the SADC region. The report makes specific recommendations to data protection authorities; legislature and civil society.

Nahrungsmittelsicherheit im Nahen Osten und Nordafrika

Zwischen Notstand und Pragmatismus: Der Fall Marokko

Unmittelbar nach dem russischen Angriffskrieg in der Ukraine rückte der Nahe Osten und Nordafrika erneut ins Zentrum der Aufmerksamkeit. Abermals befürchtete man umwälzende Krisen in der Region, nicht wegen innerer Spannungen und Konflikte, sondern wegen der großen regionalen Abhängigkeit von Nahrungsmittelimporten der Kriegsparteien Russland und Ukraine.

One Year Inflation Reduction Act

Initial Outcomes and Impacts for US-EU Trade and Investment

Max Gruenig is a Senior Policy Advisor at the E3G Washington Office. We asked him to gather initial evidence of impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act on cleantech trade and investment. One of his conclusions: “Overall, the IRA is expected to only have a marginal impact on the transatlantic economy, while contributing to the decarbonization in the US and, by extension, the global transition to net zero.”

Tight race in the conservative camp in the National Council elections in Switzerland

The center and FDP are in a neck-and-neck race for the third place in parliament.

On October 22, the Swiss electorate will be called to the polls. This year's parliamentary elections are likely to see a resurgence of the Swiss People's Party (SVP). The right-wing populist party is benefiting from the boom in immigration issues and remains by far the strongest force in polls. The winners of the 2019 elections, the Greens, do not seem to be able to repeat their strong result, and the FDP is also stumbling. The Christian Democratic party "Die Mitte" could benefit from this and is preparing to enter the Swiss parliament as the third strongest force in a historic step.

Trends im [Nicht-]Vertrauen 2023

Bericht über den Stand des Misstrauens in der Slowakei. Eine Studie von DEKK Institut.

Vertrauen ist kein abstraktes Konzept, sondern wirkt sich auf unser tägliches Leben und dessen Qualität aus. Geringes Vertrauen hat negative Auswirkungen auf die Wirtschaft und den Zustand unseres Geldbeutels, auf die Sicherheit auf den Straßen, auf Korruption und Vetternwirtschaft, auf die subjektive Lebenszufriedenheit, auf den Zusammenhalt der Gemeinschaft und nicht zuletzt auf unsere Fähigkeit, wirksam auf Krisen zu reagieren.

Abschied

Die Recherchestipendiatin des KAS-Medienprogramms Südosteuropa, Birgit Wetzel, und der Leiter des KAS-Büros Bulgarien, Norbert Beckmann-Dierkes, beim Abschied nach Abschluss des Aufenthaltes von Frau Wetzel.

The Republic of Korea and the IPEF

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) was announced as newly elected President Yoon began a tilt towards the United States (US), endorsing it as a chance to write rules and not take them.

Nahrungsmittelsicherheit im Nahen Osten und Nordafrika

Zwischen Notstand und Pragmatismus

Unmittelbar nach dem russischen Angriffskrieg in der Ukraine rückte der Nahe Osten und Nordafrika erneut ins Zentrum der Aufmerksamkeit. Nahrungsmittelsicherheit, ein bis dato randständiges Konzept der Fachliteratur, rückte ins Zentrum des Interesses regionaler und globaler Akteure. Die Befürchtung kam auf, Europa müsse neben den Herausforderungen des konventionellen Staatenkrieges an seiner östlichen Flanke auch die Folgen einer erneuten Stabilitätskrise in seiner südlichen Peripherie adressieren. Die Realität ist indes eine andere. Die Staaten der Region konnten nicht zuletzt wegen einer diplomatischen Flexibilität und Neutralität auf die Krise reagieren. Wie hat sich der Krieg auf die Region ausgewirkt? Haben die Länder der Region Strategien einer langfristigen Diversifizierung ihrer Nahrungsmittelquellen verfolgt? Woher beziehen die Länder nun ihre Getreidelieferungen? Welche Auswirkungen sind vom kürzlichen Ende des Getreideabkommens zwischen Russland und der Ukraine zu erwarten? Mit diesen Fragen richten sich die Blicke dieser Zusammenstellung auf Ägypten, Libanon, Libyen, Marokko und Tunesien. Diese Länder galten als besonders gefährdet von Nahrungsmittelkrisen. Abschließend fasst eine regionale Perspektive die Trends regional zusammen und zeigt mögliche Lösungsansätze auf.

Conflict in the Christian Community in Iraq

Internal conflicts of a millennial community

The number of Christians in the Middle East has declined rapidly in recent decades. For example, while around 1.5 million Christians still lived in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, there are no more than 250,000 today. The reasons for this vary. In particular, armed conflicts and the reign of terror of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in parts of Iraq have intensified the exodus of Iraqi Christians. Even after the end of IS rule, the situation of the Christian community in Iraq, which is one of the oldest in the entire region, is difficult. But in addition to external factors, internal ones are increasingly playing a role: Iraqi Christians are threatened with a split that could lead to the breakup of the community.

September Briefing

Young Canadians’ Biggest Fears

KAS Canada Briefings are monthly reports that address prominent national issues.