Amended bill to tackle powers of cybersecurity head
ELECTRONIC Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) will amend the Cybersecurity Bill by November before submitting it to the Cabinet and the National Legislative Assembly for approval in December this year.
ETDA executive director Surangkana Wayuparb has said that the agency will revise sections 57 and 58 of the bill in order to ensure and create cybersecurity transparency in the country.
Section 57 covers the powers and authority of the National Cybersecurity Agency secretary-general.
The agency will revise the authority or power of the secretary-general and the effects of cyberthreats.
Section 58 covers protection and the reduction of cyberthreats.
She added that the ETDA will also review if a National Cybersecurity Agency should be set up and if it should operate under the ETDA or be set up as an independent body.
Many IT and legal experts have been worried about some clauses in the cybersecurity bill, including the power of the agency’s secretary-general, who is empowered to seek information that is deemed to pose a threat to state security, without allowing the information owners to appeal against the order.
The bill also allows the secretary-general to access such doubtful information immediately and proceed to seize related equipment.
