Questions of privacy dominated a panel discussion held at the Security Special Interest Group (SSIG) in Cape Town recently, as members of the audience seemed more concerned about protecting personal information than they were about security.

The SSIG was formed last year in an effort to foster professional standards in IT security.

The panel consisted of electronic lawyers Lance Michalson, Jos Floor and Derrick Swart, and was facilitated by Karel Roode of SSIG.

The latest panel discussion was called to discuss section 5.8 of the SA Law Commission's issue paper number 24, which relates to privacy and data protection. While this is still the early stages of what could eventually become a law, the issue of privacy was propelled to the forefront of discussions. The issue paper still would have to be made a ‘Green Paper', after which it would be shaped into draft legislation called a ‘White Paper' until becoming a Bill before being made an Act of Parliament.

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