Sonny ZulhudaThis is the latest piece of news on the long-awaited implementation of the Personal Data Protection Act 2010…
http://www.mysinchew.com/node/89970
So PDPA2010, tell me quando quando quando…?
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Whither Digital Privacy: Be afraid, be very afraid!
By: Sonny Zulhuda
A quick takeaway from a closed session on Students’ Digital Privacy yesterday at Le Meridien KL (June 7th, 2013), I’d like to share what California-based Jeff Gould presented.
The SafeGov.org CEO told the audience of their research findings, among others:
- The high significance of Facebook “Like” in profiling the identity of FB users;
- Real possibility of identifying a person via DNA reconstruction taken from a gum;
- Telco’s effort to provide some form of customer’s surveillance as their enhanced service;
- ISP’s role in protecting children privacy through contractual agreements with the users/subscribers
Many things shared which are not new issues but came with novel modus operandi. We just need to be vigilant.
The closed session was attended by representatives from Cybersecurity Malaysia, Parents Action Group for Education (PAGE), FOMCA, Microsoft Corp, India-based CUTS and some local universities. Mr. Rosly Yahil from Cybersecurity Malaysia spoke about various initiatives taken in Malaysian context in dealing with the issues.
During the Q&A session, I managed to share with the floor on several issues and development on data privacy in Malaysia: Continue reading
Speaking at the Global Information Governance Summit (GIGS 2013)
By: Sonny Zulhuda
This is just to share of my upcoming presentation at the Global Information Governance Summit (GIGS 2013) that is held in Kuala Lumpur, 28th-29th of May 2013.
I will be speaking in the session 3 of day 2, entitled “Selected Issues in Information Security Law and Data Protection”. I will be speaking more specifically about the threat of identity theft; spam; data surveillance and cyber-terrorism!
The event is jointly organised by the QC Consulting and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Space. Here is the snapshot of the agenda at the second day.
The list of the speakers are amazing. I hope I can deliver something new to the audience. Let me know if you’re there too. That is for now, will share more when things are done!:)
Consumers to take control of their Personal Data
My Intro: The following passages were published by the Star in their Sunday Edition (6th January 2013) at pp 23-24. The article is about what Malaysian consumers should know and do in relation to their personal data. It is based on another interview the journalist had with me. For the benefit of the readers, I reproduce some parts of the article in this page. Should you want to read it in full, check the newspaper’s page HERE.
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“Consumers, take control of your personal data”
The Personal Data Protection Act 2010 has come into force, but the public will have to do their part to make it effective.
Credit: The Star Online
EAGER to win the grand prize, Maria (not her real name) did not hesitate to “drop” her name card at the door for a lucky draw at a company dinner. Weeks later, she found herself inundated with phone calls and text messages offering different services and products.
It is an accepted practice in Malaysia to leave our call cards or personal information at the registration counter of public events. But have you ever wondered what your personal data will be used for later? Or how it will be stored?
This has become so common here that no one thinks twice about the risks and implications, says personal data protection law expert Dr Sonny Zulhuda.
Under the newly enforced Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA), however, this practice will have to be reviewed, particularly for business entities that use these occasions as an opportunity to build their network of potential customers.
What You Need to Know about the PDPA
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My Intro: The following article, appeared in The Star newspaper, is about public awareness on the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) 2010 (Act 709). The journalist had compiled the report out of few resources, including the PDP Department and myself (through series of interaction). It is indicated at the bottom of the article itself. I reproduce the article in this page for the benefit of more readers.
Cheers! Sonny Zulhuda
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“What You Need to Know about the PDPA”
(Reproduced from The Star Online, published on Sunday, 30/12/2012)
A freelance journalist from Penang was already coping with the pain from a hemorrhoids surgery when she had to endure another hurtful experience – she discovered that her surgeon had taken photographs of her private parts without her consent when she was under.
When she confronted him, she was told that it was “normal procedure” and a common practice for “medical purposes”. Outraged that her privacy had been violated, she sued the doctor.
This is one of the many cases of personal data breaches and privacy violations in the country. Hence, the enforcement of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) this New Year is much lauded. In fact, it is long awaited – for some, over a decade long.
However, while pictures of one’s private parts may constitute as personal data, the aggrieved patient would not be able to take action under the Act – our PDPA only regulates commercial transactions. (The freelance journalist, however, won RM25,000 in damages in her civil court case.)
Here are some of the facts you need to know about the PDPA: Continue reading
From the 2nd Annual Summit on Personal Data Protection (KL, 12-13 Dec 2012)
By: Sonny Zulhuda
This 2nd Annual Personal Data Protection Summit was held in Royale Chulan of Kuala Lumpur. As admitted by the organiser (the World Asian Summit), this year edition showed much bigger interest. This impressive crowd attendance can only mean one thing: the undeniable importance of the PDP Act 2010.
The Deputy Minister Dato’ Joseph Salang had re-emphasised the Government’s seriousness about implementing the long-awaited legislation, which was already passed since June 2010. In his key-note speech, he again revealed that the Act will be enforced on the 1st January 2013 – echoing similar statement by the Minister of Information, Communications and Culture recently (Read reports on Dato’ Joseph’s announcement here, here and here).
I was invited to speak in the 2-day conference, on “Reality check on the right to privacy in Malaysia — and how is it affected by the mobile technologies and social media.” Continue reading
PDP Act enforcement soon – Are we prepared?
By Sonny Zulhuda
Recent report about the PDP Act 2010 (Act 709) soon to be enforced would naturally receive mixed reaction. Some quarters would be anticipating that news, while others could have heard it like a gong in the middle of the night.
I am glad that I have a privilege to engage with many people from different industries in the past five years, with whom I have shared my views, research and “strategies” on the new law in workshops, trainings and seminars. From the events that I attended or conducted, I find some sectors are more prepared than others in anticipating the coming or implementation of the Malaysian Personal Data Protection Act 2010.
In getting these industries actively moving or preparing, there are few factors that I think are relevant:
- Due to existing regulatory framework
- Due to their international pressure
- Due to individual experiences
Under the first category would appear to be those under certain professional associations, banks and financial institutions. Continue reading
