Digital Agenda for Tanzania Initiative acknowledges the paramount complementary contribution of the Government, Non-government Organization, and Human Rights Defenders for their initiatives and assists Tanzania to adopt a Personal Data Protection Act, which has been passed on 27th November 2022. The Act applies both to the data collected, processed and controlled offline and online. Digital Agenda for Tanzania Initiative embarked on several strategic initiatives including capacity building programs which have been designed to increase knowledge and skills on those specific fields of operation in enhancement and the promotion of Digital rights including privacy and personal data protection in Tanzania. The new law enacted by the parliament pushes the Digital Agenda for Tanzania Initiative to take steps towards creating awareness to the people about privacy and personal data protection in Tanzania.
The intervention has been undertaken in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, African Charter on Human and People’s Rights of 1981, The African Agenda 2064; the Digital Agenda for Tanzania Initiative five years Strategic Plan 2023-2028; the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs), African Convention on Cybersecurity and Data Protection of 2014, Treaty on the Establishment of East Africa Community of 1999, The United Nation Resolution on Right to privacy in digital space adopted by the General Assembly, Resolution 32/13 of 1st July 2016, United Nation Resolution No 45/95 guidelines on regulation of computerized data files. An Updated United Nation Resolution on right to privacy in digital age, Resolution No A/C.3/77/L.38 released on 1st November 2022 as well as Right to privacy and data protection report submitted by the UN special Rapporteur on the right to privacy and data protection, submitted on 20th July 2022.
Several efforts have been made by Digital Agenda for Tanzania Initiative to strengthen the capacity building in the community on digital rights, which are Human rights. However, there is a knowledge gap particularly on Privacy and personal data protection in cyberspace, limited knowledge on emerging issues and personal data protection due to insufficient education, awareness and inadequate skills.
To overcome the above setbacks. Digital Agenda for Tanzania Initiative has taken on board affirmative action to unleash the situation due to the dynamic political, economic and technological development in Tanzania, so far limited knowledge and skills is still a challenge among the people. The gap is filled through training in order to refresh, update and enhance their knowledge and skills on the issues related to privacy and personal data protection in Tanzania.
