A bill aimed at protecting personal data will be submitted to parliament within days, Attorney General Ahmed Usham has said.

Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office on Wednesday, Usham said his office is finalizing a Data Protection Bill designed to regulate how personal information is collected, processed and used.

The proposed law seeks to establish a transparent and accountable framework for handling data, while safeguarding the personal information of the public.

It will also define the responsibilities of entities that collect and process data, and set out the rules governing their conduct.

Attorney General Usham said the bill has been in development for an extended period and was prepared with technical assistance from foreign partners.

He added that three additional bills will be submitted to parliament under the government’s “Maldives 2.0” digitalization initiative.

These include a digital transformation bill, which would establish a Maldives Digital Service, as well as a separate bill on digital identity.

A cyber security bill is also being prepared. Usham said it would aim to strengthen the security of the country’s cyber environment and set requirements for systems linked to critical infrastructure in both the public and private sectors.

The proposed legislation would also establish a dedicated cyber security agency.