OPTF

Current Affairs

Cyber laws around the world: Privacy is not the policy

There is no doubt that the European Union’s GDPR has changed the cyber regulation landscape forever. As onlookers from non-EU countries urge their governments and regulators to adopt similar legislation, countries are rapidly adopting their own sweeping data protection and cyber legislation, much of which is below the standards required to genuinely protect the rights …

Cyber laws around the world: Privacy is not the policy Read More »

The long and winding road : Striving for data protection in Indonesia

Juliana Harsianti is an independent researcher and journalist working at the intersection of digital technology and social impact. The long awaited Indonesian Personal Data Protection Bill was approved by the parliament on 20 September 2022. Despite the initial draft being submitted to parliament in 2016, this long-pending legislation experienced delays due to disagreements between Government, …

The long and winding road : Striving for data protection in Indonesia Read More »

Kazakhstan needs tougher laws to address the impacts of spyware

In July 2021, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, issued a statement exposing the widespread use of Pegasus spyware that targeted journalists, human rights activists, politicians, and other people across the world. Software, originally designed to spy on terrorists, is a product of the Israeli “cyber intelligence” NSO Group. Pegasus …

Kazakhstan needs tougher laws to address the impacts of spyware Read More »

Recognition and Protection: India’s Data Privacy Journey

Amber is a Senior Fellow-Trustworthy AI at Mozilla Foundation studying models for algorithmic transparency. He works at the intersection of law, technology and society. The Indian Government withdrew the Personal Data Protection Bill in August 2022, indicating it would work on a new bill soon. The legislative process towards data protection laws in India has …

Recognition and Protection: India’s Data Privacy Journey Read More »

SIM card registration: The bill is dead, long live the bill!

Jamael Jacob is a lawyer and privacy practitioner wearing many hats including: data protection officer of a private university, policy and legal advisor of a non-profit, and data protection consultant. He is also the former (and first-ever) head of the policy unit of the country’s data protection authority.  The Philippines is yet again exploring legislation …

SIM card registration: The bill is dead, long live the bill! Read More »

Signal, mobile numbers and the Twilio hack

The recent Twilio hack raises important questions about the vulnerability SMS-based verifications – where users receive an SMS with special code to verify or confirm that they have access to a mobile number used to register to a service. In OPTF’s latest Framed newsletter, we explore the Twilio hack and the vulnerability of using SMS …

Signal, mobile numbers and the Twilio hack Read More »