No Privacy, Guaranteed
Namibia’s mass surveillance framework is out of step with recent African human rights guidance Just as Namibia was about to operationalise its new mass state surveillance framework, it was already apparent that this framework does not align with African best practice guidelines. On 1 April 2024, Namibia’s enhanced mass communications surveillance framework came into force […]
No Privacy, Guaranteed
The Namibian communications surveillance framework will come into full force on 1 April 2024. This briefing paper argues that the changes underway raise serious human rights concerns around the right to privacy as well as free expression and media freedom. The paper goes on to propose pathways for a course correction.
SIM Card Registration & The NCIS
The obscurest state agency is handed a most powerful ‘instrument’ with only presidential scrutiny IN his ministerial statement of 29 December 2023, extending the SIM card registration period to the end of March 2024, Information and Communication Technology minister Peya Mushelenga made it a point to start off by extolling the virtues of SIM card […]
Data Protection in the Age of Mass Surveillance – Part II
The proposed data protection bill is not up to standard concerning fundamental rights, freedoms, as well as privacy Addressing the room early on 22 August 2023 on behalf of the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (MICT), as she opened what was called a validation workshop for the latest version of the data protection bill, […]
Data Protection in the Age of Mass Surveillance – Part I
Namibian authorities pitch flawed safeguards as pervasive state surveillance looms “Today aims at setting the regulatory framework on how personal data should be collected, stored and processed,” said Linda Aipinge, director of ICT Development in the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (MICT), on the morning of 22 August 2023 to a conference hall full […]
Thinking About Data Protection
A draft data protection bill has been made public and it is clear that it requires a lot more work before it should be tabled in parliament. This Perspectives on Parliament bulletin includes both IPPR and Legal Assistance Centre commentaries on the bill – which have been submitted to the Ministry of Information and Communication […]
Data Protection Bill: Not Fit For Purpose
This review of the proposed Data Protection Bill for Namibia argues that the draft law requires further development to ensure that it meets the requirements of a contemporary data protection framework. The sections on the independence of the Supervisory Authority need to be reconsidered and substantially redrafted, and sections concerning offences, penalties, and administrative penalties […]
Tackling Cybersecurity/Crime in Namibia
The proposed cybercrimes bill could threaten human rights – a better approach is needed
