By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Kenya’s Office of the Data
Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has called on data management professionals to
prioritise data ethics, privacy and cybersecurity safeguards to protect the
rights and freedoms of individuals in the country’s digital economy.
The call was made by Deputy
Data Commissioner Emmanuel Maiyo during the official launch of DAMA Kenya, the
Kenyan chapter of the International Data Management Association, held in
Nairobi.
Maiyo congratulated DAMA
Kenya on the milestone and highlighted the important role data professionals
play in protecting personal data.
“Data represents people.
Behind every record, transaction, biometric identifier, or online profile is a
data subject who is the owner and their rights and freedoms must be respected,”
he said.
He encouraged the new
chapter to champion data ethics, privacy by design and by default, strong
cybersecurity safeguards and continuous professional development.
The launch brought together
data management professionals, industry leaders, government representatives,
academia and technology partners.
The ODPC said the
collaboration would support efforts to build a digital economy where innovation
thrives, privacy is respected and trust remains at the heart of digital
services.
