Highlights from UNESCO’s IDUAI Conference at Oxford University, September 2023

The Information Regulator actively participated in the 14th edition of the International Conference for Information Commissioners (ICIC), held in Manila, Philippines, from June 19th to June 21st, 2023. This conference serves as a platform for regulatory authorities worldwide to convene and engage in discussions focused on data protection and the promotion of access to information. With the theme “Access to Information as a Response to the Modern Challenges of Democracy,” the conference aimed to promote transparency and accountability, leading to societal benefits.

The Regulator hosted a Stakeholder Engagement Breakfast at Polokwane to discuss the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA) with organized professional organizations and public bodies.

The Greater Giyani Local Municipality and the Regulator co-hosted a Community Engagement, also known as a “Dikopano,” in Giyani. The session was hosted to raise awareness and promote human rights specifically the right to privacy as it relates to the protection of personal information and the right of access to information.

The Information Regulator and the Data Protection Office of Mauritius signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 9, 2023, at the Mauritius High Commission in Pretoria. The agreement provides a thorough structure for fostering cooperation on the evolving challenges of personal data/information protection.

The Chairperson of the Information Regulator SA, Adv. Pansy Tlakula, participated in the UNESCO-hosted “Internet for Trust” conference in Paris from February 21–23, 2023, to discuss a set of draft global guidelines for regulating digital platforms and safeguarding freedom of expression and access to information.

On January 27, the Information Regulator (IR) and the Article 12 Web Rangers convened a panel of young school-aged children, Data privacy experts, and Cyber security specialists for an interactive discussion on children and data privacy. The purpose of the conversation was to educate youngsters about the significance of protecting their personal information and how the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) can be an effective tool for exercising their right to privacy.