This week, DR Analytica has published the 2016 ICT index “The Cost of Freedom and Security”; Uzbekistan introduced an IT system allowing to buy real estate online; Ukraine approved the Cybersecurity Strategy for 2017; Russia’s FSB proposes to apply the “Yarovaya Law” without a pilot testing; ; Tajikistan will fingerprint the University applicants; The Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament seeks more Internet security; The international electronic payment systems are obliged to register in Kyrgyzstan.
1. Digital.Report in co-operation with DR Analytica conducted a study of 50 ICT experts to assess the implications ICT legislative acts introduced in 2016 in 8 Eurasian countries had for freedom, security, and economic efficiency. The results of the study are presented in the Index “The Cost of Freedom and Security”. The Index reflects the main legislative trends in the region and emphasizes different approaches to the ICT in the former Soviet states.
2. The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution “On measures to improve the order of notarization of transactions with the use of interagency electronic interaction”. This resolution approved the “Regulations on the procedure for notarization of transactions of purchase, sale, barter, and a gift of real estate using interagency electronic interaction”. The new IT system called “Notary” will allow transactions with real estate in e-form.
3. Business representatives and lawyers highlighted the main problems of legal regulation of personal data in Kazakhstan. It is necessary, they argue, to create an authorized body to protect the rights of the subject of personal data. The law “On Personal Data and its Protection” would have to be upgraded to fully outline relevant processes.
4. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Cybersecurity Strategy for 2017. The main goal is to ensure and control the security of information systems of state agencies and critical infrastructure facilities. The Strategy identifies transport, energy, defense, and finance as strategically important.
DR comments: within the framework of the Cyber Security Strategy implementation, telecommunication network and data centers will be created for state structures. The creation of such a system is aimed at protecting the critical infrastructure of the state. According to the new regulation, the Ministry of Information Policy is declared responsible and will supervise 3 aspects of the state policy – information sovereignty, security, and state broadcasting.
5. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opposed the pilot testing of the “Yarovaya law” and the phased introduction of legislated requirements. The FSB believe that all the technical details for implementing the law have already been created. By June 30, the FSB plans to submit a regulatory act specifying information on how and in what format data would/should be stored by Russian operators.
DR comments: The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), Roskomnadzor and other agencies are working on a new bill, which will be submitted in the spring. The document will allow the court to slow down access to sites that violate Russian law.
6. The Tajik National Testing Center (NCT) introduced a mandatory procedure for fingerprinting applicants to the University entrance exams. This procedure aims to “stop the cases, when a completely different person replaces the applicant on the test”, said the press-secretary of the NCT.
7. The Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova, Andrian Candu, believes that the republic needs a law to ensure security on the Internet. He expressed this opinion, commenting on the death of teenagers, who were allegedly participants in “groups of death” spread over social networks.
8. The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan (NBKR) obliged the international electronic payment systems to register prior to 1 June 2017 or be considered illegal in the country. Our sources within the NBKR informed that those measures were taken “to protect the rights of users of such ‘unfair’ systems”. This initiative may create a serious barrier to the ability of local producers to export their products to foreign countries through e-commerce.