Cabinet approves draft law on protection of privacy

Manama: The Cabinet session, chaired by Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and attended by Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, approved yesterday a draft law on protecting personal data, and referred it to the Legislature.

The bill prohibits access to or dealing with personal data without the consent of their owner, unless under specific conditions. It also determines the regulations that ensure the confidentiality of the data and the rights of the person.

The session, held at the Gudaibiya Palace, then discussed a number of laws and regulations that would develop the investment climate, provide a free economic setting and encourage investments, submitted by the Executive Committee, led by HRH Crown Prince.

In this regard, the session approved a draft resolution on regulating investment in state-owned lands and companies.

The draft aims to foster fairness, competitiveness and transparency and to ensure equal opportunities in investing in wholly state-owned lands and companies for maximum profits.

The draft resolution applies to state-owned lands in which a Royal order is issued, lands that are owned by state departments and companies that are fully owned by the state.

The session also endorsed a draft law on issuing a law to encourage competitiveness, and referred it to the Legislative Branch, in line with the legal and constitutional procedures in force.

The draft law prohibits any procedures that may lead to restricting economic competitiveness.

The Prime Minister and the Crown Prince welcomed the newly-appointed Parliament Affairs Minister, Ghanim bin Fadhel Al Buainain, and Information Affairs Minister, Ali bin Mohammed Al Rumaihi, wishing them every success in their assignments.