March 31, 2021. A proclamation issued a few days earlier has fixed that date to mark the Barbados Data Protection Act, 2019-29 coming into effect. Put another way: March 31 is when the privacy compliance landscape in Barbados will change immutably.
Category: data protection and cybersecurity
A complex array of frameworks and arrangments exist globally and regionally for addressing aspects of cybersecurity and data protection. I keep tabs on these developments – whether private contract provisions to legislation to treaties and voluntary frameworks.
Bermuda recognises comprehensive certification mechanism for data transfers
Bermuda’s Privacy Commissioner recently announced recognition for the APEC CBPR System as a certification mechanism for overseas transfers of personal data under Bermuda’s data privacy law. The move promises strong safeguards for transfers of data outside of Bermuda.
Status of Data Privacy Laws in the Caribbean [Feb 2021]
With the recent activities around operationalising data privacy laws in Barbados and Jamaica, I thought it would be a good time to provide an update on the status of privacy laws in the Commonwealth Caribbean*, generally. I have also included, where applicable, recent privacy-related developments in the relevant jurisdictions. TL;DR – Six jurisdictions are without…
Barbados and Jamaica closer to operationalising new privacy laws
Both Barbados and Jamaica passed substantive data protection laws in the past 18 months. Neither jurisdiction has, however, taken the relevant procedural steps to actually make their privacy laws enforceable.
BVI tables cyber laws
The Government of the British Virgin Islands has tabled a number of bills in its parliament aimed at enhancing the digital economy. The suite of proposed legislation covers data privacy, the facilitation of electronic filings via government institutions, electronic commerce (electronic transactions, documents and signatures) and digital payments.
[Panel discussion] The Barbados Data Protection Act – SMART Barbados Week 2019
I was honoured to be part of a panel discussion on the newly passed Barbados Data Protection Act at the inaugural Smart Barbados Week 2019. The Smart Barbados Week was a 4-day symposium hosted by Barbados’ Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology (MIST). Its purpose was to engage the Barbadian public with the knowledge…
[Published] Article in the Business Authority on the Barbados Data Protection Bill*
The Business Authority newspaper (Barbados) published an article under my name. The article is based on my written submissions to the Barbados Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on the Data Protection Bill, 2019. The article zooms in on my comments on the lack of protection offered to the Data Protection Commissioner’s office and the need for…
[Quoted] Global Data Review article on the Eastern Caribbean States accessing Facebook’s disaster mapping technology
Global Data Review recently reached out for comments on a recently announced collaboration between the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and Facebook. Under the initiative, the OECS will have access to Facebook’s Disaster Maps feature in the event of natural disasters. Links: Read the Global Data Review article here [subscription required]; a copy of the…
Jamaica’s Court declares freestanding constitutional right to informational privacy
a general right to privacy must be read into the Jamaican Constitution
Barbados Data Protection Bill 2019
A new draft of the proposed Barbados Data Protection Bill has been circulated. See a copy here.