Macau | City government should create a Cybersecurity Bill – Tech law expert

Macau (MNA) – “The draft Cybersecurity Bill introduces a light-touch licensing regime for cybersecurity service providers because (a) they can have significant access into clients’ computer systems and can gain deep understanding of its vulnerabilities; (b) there is a need to introduce baseline quality requirements; and (c) to help organisations identify credible service providers,” the expert added.

Introduced for public consultation this year, the Singapore Cybersecurity Law is expected to reach the country’s parliament next year.

Mr. Pollins also explained that Singapore has established a framework for the sharing of cybersecurity information with and by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) officers to relevant parties, for the purpose of preventing, detecting, countering or investigating any cybersecurity threat or incident, and the protection of such information.

“Cybersecurity attacks can move around the world instantaneously, and the availability of reliable and timely information and threat intelligence is crucial to preventing and countering such cybersecurity attacks,” Mr. Pollins told Macau News Agency (MNA)

This type of legislation would help assure the security of projects such as the planned data centre, to be built in the city as part of the Framework Agreement for Strategic Cooperation in the Area of Building an Intelligent City, signed between the MSAR Government and the Alibaba Group.

This development would require the construction of a cloud platform centre in Macau, in two phases by June 2021, with the first phase expected to be finished by June 2019.

Establishing the centre is reportedly likely cost MOP400 million over the next two years, with Big Data analysis expected to help the city’s tourism, transportation, healthcare, governance and talent development during this period.

At the time of the announcement, the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ), Service Director, Liu Dexue, said the current Data Protection Law – enacted 12 years ago – was “sufficient but that it could be “reinforced” through some “legislation improvements”.

The Office for the Secretary for Security told MNA in August that it is currently facilitating the construction of a cyber security system in Macau to provide technical support, alert and guidance for cyber security incidents with legislation work for the framework of cyber security law(s) to be launched in 2018.

“Singapore is already an international leader in cybersecurity, and countries across the region can look to Singapore for inspiration on this front,” Mr. Pollins told MNA.