File photo used for representation only.
Experts in the fields of big data and technology exchanged views on the need to develop an international regulatory and legal framework to protect the digital sovereignty and data privacy of individuals, enterprises, and nations at an online panel discussion hosted by leading Qatari firm Moseco Qatar recently.
Executive Director at Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), Dr. Ahmed Elmagarmid, who delivered the keynote presentation during the event, said most nation states have data related laws to strengthen their nation’s ability to act independently in the digital world. However, there is a lack of collaboration among nations in developing international regulations or laws on data sovereignty and privacy, he said.
Elmagarmid added: “State-sponsored cyber-attacks are on the rise. Over 600 state-sponsored cyber-attacks have been recorded in the last decade, with more than one case per week. And the rate is increasing. There is a lack of international law or accord to regulate the use of cyberwarfare or the Geneva Convention equivalent for cyberwarfare. Also, one of the challenges in cyber security is the lack of collaboration among countries in sharing data. Similarly, banks are not sharing information about the nature of the attacks because they are worried about the financial implications. While the attackers share information very widely on the dark web”.
An accomplished and well-published scientist, Elmagarmid has previously served with The Washington Institute on a number of consortiums to develop a framework for data privacy and sovereignty. He also highlighted the need to ensure that users have better control of their own data in the digital space, as well as the importance of data security and control while migrating to the cloud.
“In Qatar, there are several innovation bodies including the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), Qatar Development Bank (QDB), Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC), and Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) among others which provide environments to develop mechanisms to protect data control environments and develop defensive as well as offensive capabilities. We are also working with the MoTC, Ministry of Interior, the National Cyber Security Research Lab, and other entities to develop local capabilities and technologies on data sovereignty,” he added.
ICT Expert and former Head of Technical Affairs at the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), Abdulla Jassmi, stressed the need to conduct massive awareness campaigns to educate the public on consumer data awareness. He said: “People need to know what is recorded about them and where it is used. We are going toward total digitalisation by 2030, which is the agenda of every country. We are only a few years from this. Transparency, awareness, and education, are the keys for ensuring that the data is protected within the border,” added Jassmi.
During the event, Director of Corporate, External and Legal Affairs for Middle East Cluster at Microsoft, Yasemin Genc, highlighted the crucial role of technology in daily life, particularly in the last 10 months. Speaking about data sovereignty and security, she said: “In the region there is a lot of activity and interest around this.
But some countries are definitely faster. This is something that is going to take time. The policies and regulations can be adopted. But how are they going to be implemented. And how is the ecosystem going to support this, how will there be more researches, and more innovation in the countries. It depends on how willing the governments are. And we see that Qatar has been moving in this area much faster than a lot of the others in the region”.
Vice-President and Economic Advisor of the Government Affairs Team at Huawei Technologies, Andrew Williamson, added: “Qatar is doing really well on its data privacy legislation. The country is going in the right direction. This is a very dynamic industry, and there’s a lot in this space that still needs to be done. It is important to think about what you want for your national digital ecosystem. And this is about finding that sweet spot. No one wants to go to digital nativism; we want to keep our borders open. We want to engage in global value chains in the digital centre. But at the same time, there is a monopolistic tendency that seems to be created in the digital economy. You want to protect and nurture your own digital ecosystem. And you got to really think about that multivendor strategy and all those other issues that exist about enabling and building your own digital national champions”.
Chairman of Moseco Qatar, Marwan Marouf Rafiq Mahmoud, who moderated the discussion on ‘Data Sovereignty & Protection’, reiterated that one of Qatar’s ‘main drivers’ is the country’s cloud adoption. “The private sector is looking at this, and there’s big opportunity for localising skills and localising products. The private sector is looking forward to building partnerships,” he added.
