The Government holds a public session to garner community opinion on a cybersecurity bill.
The Government-proposed cybersecurity bill aims to specify responsibilities of public departments and particular entities in order to maintain the security of the city’s “critical infrastructure” relating to information technology.
Under the envisaged law, there would be guidelines for relevant entities to follow when handling personal data; and there would also be sanctions specified for any failure to observe such guidelines.
The proposed bill is currently the subject of a 45-day consultation period, which runs until 24 January. A first public session seeking to garner community opinion was held on Friday (5 January) by Government representatives.
The session was attended by 90 people, 19 of whom offered comments and suggestions.
The majority of the comments expressed during Friday’s session were in favour of the setting up of such a legal framework relating to cybersecurity. Some supported the idea it should be mandatory for anyone purchasing a SIM card in Macao to provide details of a personal identification document; some people expressed concern over coordination and supervision of an initiative that required cross-departmental effort.
Issues raised by attendees included: protection of personal data; the effectiveness of such a law; the management and execution of it; the penalties for non-compliance; what entities would be considered interested parties under the envisaged law; the promotion of, and education on, the proposed statute; enforcement cooperation with neighbouring cities; and the composition of any future department for information security.
Regarding the cyber systems of public departments, there would be internal guidelines for each department, complemented by technical support provided by a centralised data management unit under the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau.
Government representatives attending the public consultation session included: the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Security, Ms Cheong Ioc Ieng; the Coordinator of the Office for Personal Data Protection, Mr Yang Chongwei; and Advisers to the Office of the Secretary for Security, Mr Chan Hin Chi and Mr António Pedro.
Two additional consultation sessions on the proposed cybersecurity bill will be held on 13 and 14 January. Members of the public interested in attending one or both of those sessions should register before 12pm on 12 January, via www.gss.gov.mo/ch/ciberseg; or telephone: +853 8800 6611.
The consultation document, available in either Chinese or Portuguese, has been uploaded to the website of the Office of the Secretary for Security (www.gss.gov.mo/ch/ciberseg).
Members of the public are welcome to contribute suggestions and opinions via the following routes:
- By post to Office of the Secretary for Security (address: Calçada dos Quartéis) or to the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (address: Public Administration Building, No.162 Rua do Campo); and
- Via the Government portal website (www.gov.mo), or via a website dedicated for the purpose (www.gss.gov.mo/pt/ciberseg).
