www.bahrainthismonth.com 74 April 2023 Bahrain This Month’s Bill Grieve delves into Personal Data Privacy and looks at who safeguards personal data, what safeguards individuals can take and what to do if you suspect the law(s) regarding your personal data have been breached or broken in Bahrain. Speaking to Yaqoob K. Alrayes the Data Protection Guardian – Information Security Department – Governance, Risk, and Compliance Unit with a leading financial institution, BTM provides some additional guidance on this delicate and sensitive issue. What is Personal Data? Personal data refers to any information in any form concerning an identified individual, or an individual who can, directly or indirectly, be identified. In Bahrain it has become all too common to share sensitive personal data across methods like Whatsapp, Messenger, Airdrop, Email and even just by allowing photographs or scans of confidential documents to be taken. This is seriously advised against, and people are cautioned – do not share your information “willy nilly”. Sharing information recklessly and without safeguards or assurances puts the identity of an individual at high risk and places the individual in potential jeopardy. Always keep your personal data and documents safe and guarded. If storing information on a computer or PC, ensure that a secure digital vault or encrypted drive is used, on a phone use whatever software can be obtained and afforded to keep the phone secure, and personal data and photographs/ documents stored securely. When personal information or data needs to be shared always check that the company has an approved and up to date Data Privacy Policy, always check that the individual you are giving your information to has the authority and responsibility to receive and be in possession of your information. Remember a lie travels around the world before the truth can put its shoes on in the morning. Be careful with your information – information you share may be used nefariously and your identity, bank accounts and assets may be put in danger and at risk if you are not careful. Who has your personal information data and what are they doing with it? PERSONAL INFORMATION DATA PRIVACY opinion
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==