From the Coalition of Personal Data, comprised of APADIT, Internet Society Paraguay Chapter, Puente and TEDIC we want to share an important advancement with our community and all interested parties in our journey towards the consideration and enactment of robust and adequate legislation for the comprehensive protection of personal data in Paraguay.
After Deputy Rodrigo Blanco from the PLRA proposed on July 24, 2024, that this bill be considered this year during the first constitutional session, it is worth noting that in 2023, the proposal was already attempted to be addressed on several occasions. During the first and second semesters of 2023, the proposal was included on the agenda of the Chamber of Deputies in four different sessions.
A Three-Year Journey
It all began on April 30, 2021, when we presented the initial version of our bill to the National Congress. This version, which has been available on the Legislative Information System of Paraguay (SILPy) for three years, was the starting point of an arduous and detailed process of review and improvement. During this time, we dedicated ourselves to collecting and considering the opinions and suggestions of a wide variety of actors, both public and private, thus ensuring diverse and comprehensive representation in the review process of the bill.
The final version we are presenting today is the result of all this collective effort. Throughout this time, we worked hand in hand with the Science and Technology Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MITIC), and the Presidency of the Republic, as well as various stakeholders who contributed their knowledge and experience. Every adjustment and correction was made with the aim of adapting the bill to the reality and needs of our country, always focusing on people and their rights.
Although our project was inspired by legislation from other regions and countries, we placed special emphasis on adapting it to the Paraguayan reality. Our goal is for Paraguay to be on par with other jurisdictions that recognize the importance of protecting their citizens’ personal data. We firmly believe that well-designed legislation in this area is essential to guarantee fundamental rights and security in our digital age.
We know that personal data protection is a complex issue that requires widespread dissemination and training to be properly understood and applied. Therefore, we reiterate our willingness to continue engaging in fluid and constructive dialogue with all actors involved in this process. We believe it is crucial to keep dialogue channels open to ensure this bill benefits from serious and well-informed debate.
Since we started this journey, we have seen how dialogue and collaboration have generated and continue to generate positive results. Our commitment is clear: we want to position personal data protection as a priority issue on the public agenda, and we do so in a proactive, participatory, and evidence-based manner.
A Future for Personal Data Protection in Paraguay
We reaffirm our conviction that comprehensive personal data protection legislation in Paraguay is not only necessary but vital. It will not only protect the fundamental rights of individuals but also foster trust in the responsible use of data, benefiting society as a whole.
We are sharing our final version with all interested parties in this process and continue forward with the hope of building a safer digital future for everyone.
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