Financial Crime World

New Data Protection Law in Egypt: Key Requirements and Differences with GDPR

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Overview of the Data Protection Law in Egypt

The Data Protection Law in Egypt is a significant development in the country’s data privacy landscape. The law requires organizations to implement various measures to protect personal data, including maintaining a data inventory, ensuring third-party risk management, incident response and breach management, regulator enforcement penalties, and cross-border transfers.

Key Requirements of the Data Protection Law

  • Data Inventory: Organizations must maintain a record of all internal and third-party processing of European personal data.
  • Third-Party Risk Management: Companies must ensure that third parties handling personal data comply with the law and implement necessary measures for data protection.
  • Incident Response and Breach Management: Organizations are required to disclose incidents and data breaches within 72 hours, unless it relates to national security considerations.
  • Regulator Enforcement Penalties: Fines can reach up to 5 million Egyptian Pounds or imprisonment for more than six months.
  • Cross-Border Transfers: Permitted under specific conditions, with adequate levels of data protection provided and subject to obtaining a relevant license or permit from the Center.

Differences between Egypt Data Protection Law and GDPR

The report highlights key differences between the Egypt Data Protection Law and the European Union General Protection Law (GDPR), including:

  • Right to Portability: The GDPR includes the right to export and import certain personal data, which is not included in the Egypt law.
  • Automated Decision-Making: The GDPR includes the right to require a human to make decisions that have legal implications, which is not present in the Egypt law.

Effective Data Privacy Programme

The report concludes with ten steps to an effective data privacy programme, emphasizing the importance of building trust in society and solving important problems.

Steps to an Effective Data Privacy Programme

  1. Understand the laws and regulations: Familiarize yourself with the requirements of the Data Protection Law in Egypt.
  2. Conduct a risk assessment: Identify potential risks and vulnerabilities related to data protection.
  3. Develop a data inventory: Maintain a record of all internal and third-party processing of European personal data.
  4. Implement third-party risk management: Ensure that third parties handling personal data comply with the law and implement necessary measures for data protection.
  5. Establish incident response and breach management: Develop procedures to disclose incidents and data breaches within 72 hours, unless it relates to national security considerations.
  6. Train employees: Educate employees on data protection policies and procedures.
  7. Conduct regular audits: Regularly assess the effectiveness of your data privacy programme.
  8. Develop a breach response plan: Establish procedures for responding to data breaches.
  9. Communicate with stakeholders: Inform relevant stakeholders, including customers and suppliers, about data protection practices.
  10. Continuously monitor and improve: Regularly review and update your data privacy programme to ensure it remains effective.

By following these steps, organizations can establish an effective data privacy programme that complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Law in Egypt.