14 - 20 September 2000

Data collection by Maltese businesses may soon become illegal

by a staff reporter

Collecting data about customers and using that information without considering their rights may soon become illegal. "Collecting as much data about your customers and then turning that data into useful information is one of the ways that businesses are trying to make the best use of technology. So far they have been free to do this without worrying about consumer rights or legal issues. Soon this will have to be a major consideration otherwise the new Maltese data protection law will be broken," Steve Cachia, partner in charge of the Enterprise Risk

Services arm of the local Deloitte & Touche firm, told The Malta Business Weekly.

And this particular issue will be one of the topics to be discussed at a one-day conference later this month. The conference 'Technology - Avoid IT, embrace IT or manage IT' is being organised by Deloitte & Touche.

"This conference is badly needed by Maltese business leaders who fully understand that the survival of their business depends on their ability to harness computer technology and adapt to the demand for the use of technology by their suppliers and customers for transacting with them," he explained.

The conference will bring together leading local and foreign speakers, all experts in their respective fields, to identify the key aspects of managing Information Technology and handling the associated risks in today's electronic environment and tomorrow's global e-market.

One of the speakers will be explaining the implications of Malta's new cyberlaws on data held locally by businesses and government. Apart from Marketing Data which is specifically targeted by the Data Protection Act, all companies and governments collect data about past, present and future staff.

These records help management to know their staff and this is important when transfers, wage or salary increases, promotions, and so on, are considered.

Are the records they hold about staff up to date? Did someone not get his promotion because your HR personnel did not update the company's records although they had been informed that the employee had obtained a qualification? What will his rights be? Is your company liable for the error under this new legislation?

A speaker from the Inland Revenue will be detailing his Department's plans to use computers to improve tax collection, vis-à-vis the fact that the IR is increasingly using technology to automate previously voluminous and mundane tasks.

"We plan to assist our conference delegates in finding the answers to a number of key questions: Do we have the right IT strategy? Is our money being well spent? How will e-government change the way we operate? Are we unintentionally breaking any of our country's laws? Are we employing the right people with the right skills? Do we have adequate control over our IT department? Is our data secure? Are our electronic transactions secure? Have our computer systems been hacked? Is the IT department running our business? Are we managing technology or is it managing us?" Mr Cachia said.

These are some of the very important questions that will be asked and addressed during the conference.

For more information and registration contact Deloitte & Touche on tel: 335323 fax: 332606 or e-mail: conferences@deloitte.com.mt. Bookings will be accepted on a first come first served basis.