The Electoral Commission and the Information Regulator are to hold a joint colloquium on Thursday 30 January 2020 to discuss the impact of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) on election legislation, regulations and processes in a bid to ensure the safeguarding and the lawful processing of personal information within the elections sphere.
The colloquium will take place at the Premier Hotel in Midrand from 09h00 to 16h00 under the theme “Our personal information matters – protection of personal information, an essential requirement for free and fair elections in the digital era”.
The colloquium will explore ways to ensuring the safeguarding of voters’ personal information through cybersecurity and other measures which can be taken by the Electoral Commission, political parties and others to ensure lawful collection, processing and use of personal information of voter, candidates and others in the electoral process.
Among the key topics to be discussed during the day include:
1. Whether the provisions of section 3(2) (a) of POPIA takes precedence over the provision of the Electoral Act
2. Whether various sections of the Electoral Act and the voter registration regulations comply with the conditions for lawful processing of personal information provided for in POPIA
3. A discussion on the use of personal information of voters by political parties for campaigning purposes
4. The impact of fake news, misinformation, disinformation and social media bots on the freeness and fairness of elections and measures taken by social media companies to counter these.
A copy of the draft programme is attached for further information.
Invited participants include members of the Information Regulator, the Electoral Commission along with members of the National Party Liaison Committee (NPLC), members of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development as well as members of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, NGOs, civil society organisations, Chapter 9 institutions, other regulatory bodies, private and public bodies of specific interest (information, communications and telecommunications sectors), social media companies, relevant government departments, media houses, academic institutions and research institutions.
The media are invited to attend. For further information please contact:
Electoral Commission: Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386 or [email protected]
Information Regulator: Marks Thibela on 082 746 4173 or [email protected]
ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND THE INFORMATION REGULATOR