Electronic regulations unwanted

Local and Arab ICT bodies protest draft law to regulate electronic transactions

August 2, 2011- The Professional Computer Association (PCA) and the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization (AICTO) criticized a draft law to regulate electronic transactions. The bill has been listed on the agenda of the parliament’s upcoming legislative session scheduled for August 3.

The PCA said that the E-transaction draft law combined three distinct topics. It said “the proposal deals with the electronic signature - a legal aspect -, electronic trading - an economic aspect -, and the protection of privacy and individual freedoms.”

The PCA said that such regulation will affect the production sectors in the country. “The draft law states establishing a committee for regulating electronic services, with extensive power over the ICT sector,” the PCA said. It said that the bill compels any company that has, or plans to build, a databank to request a license from the regulating committee.

The AICTO, on its part, said that the proposal contradicts with the Arab charter for free internet information exchange. It said that the bill threatens Lebanon’s ICT sector and economy.