Jamaicans are being encouraged to take control of their personal data and defend their digital rights as the country navigates an increasingly data-driven landscape.
Information Commissioner, Celia Barclay, made the appeal while addressing the recently concluded Data Privacy Conference in Kingston.
The event was hosted by the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) under the theme ‘Data is Power: Defend Your Rights, Secure Your Future’.
“This serves as a vital wake-up call for us living in a digital age, where data is the new gold, to reclaim our ownership of our personal data. We exist in a data-driven world in which the loss or misuse of data, especially personal data, creates significant risk for both companies and individuals,” Ms. Barclay said, while underscoring the need for compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2020.
Companies are also being urged to prioritise the privacy and security of people’s personal data, as failure to do so could lead to significant legal and financial consequences.
“There is tremendous power in the ownership and control of our personal data. With this power comes the great responsibility to protect it and to defend the rights in relation to it,” the Information Commissioner emphasised.
To assist in heightening public awareness, Ms. Barclay said the OIC will ramp up its public education campaign throughout 2025 and beyond.
This undertaking will include increased outreach through various media platforms to ensure Jamaicans are well-informed about their data rights and how to exercise them effectively.
“We recognise that establishing a robust data-protection framework is not simply about enacting legislation but also about creating a privacy-conscious society in which individuals understand their rights and are empowered to exercise them,” Ms. Barclay said.
