The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) has issued a final report on the September 1 general and regional elections in Guyana, urging the government to activate the 2023 Data Protection Act. The move aims to prevent the recurrence of politically motivated misuse of personal data, particularly information collected for cash grant processing. The report, published on Tuesday, highlights that the absence of enforced data protection legislation allowed for unchecked doxing and the exploitation of government-held personal data for political gains. The EUEOM emphasized the need for the establishment of a publicly accountable Data Protection Office to safeguard voters’ personal information from unauthorized publication and political misuse. This recommendation comes amidst the government’s push for public servants to register for the Digital Identity Card, despite the lack of a commencement order for the Digital Identity Card Act and the Data Protection Act. The report also criticized the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) for allegedly using mobile phone numbers of cash grant recipients to solicit votes, a practice deemed inconsistent with Guyana’s international commitments, including the EU-Latin America and Caribbean Joint Declaration on a Digital Alliance. The EUEOM noted that police failed to take action against PPP/C activists accused of profiling individuals from We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party events, leading to intimidation and unwarranted publicity. The report, already presented to the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and political party representatives, calls for the appointment of a Data Commissioner and the establishment of a Data Protection Office, which are yet to be realized. The 2023 Data Protection Act, praised for its alignment with international standards, mandates individual consent for personal data use and protects against unwarranted profiling. The EUEOM’s recommendation references Article 17 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which safeguards against arbitrary interference with privacy.
Activate Data Protection law to prevent repeat of political, malicious use of ‘cash grant’ personal data- EU Observer Mission
