A proposed cyber security bill has been opened for public consultation, the Secretariat of the Parliament announced, initiating a feedback period that commenced on 17 June and will conclude at 2:00 p.m. on 1 July. The legislation was initially submitted to the parliament on 11 May.
Introduced on behalf of the government by Hussain Nasih, the Member of Parliament for Central Henveyru, the legislation primarily seeks to establish a legal framework to ensure the safety of the Maldivian cyber environment. To achieve this objective, the bill mandates the creation of the National Cyber Security Agency to coordinate efforts to protect the nation's digital landscape. Based on the advice of this newly established agency, the National Security Council will be responsible for determining the country's cyber security policies.
Licensing regulations under the draft law dictate that entities providing specific cyber security services will be required to obtain a special licence. Operating without the requisite licensing will incur fines ranging from USD 3,243.77 to USD 32,437.72, the bill states.
Broader provisions of the proposed law will determine national standards for cyber security, alongside specific requirements concerning information systems connected to the infrastructure of state and private institutions. Following the bill's passage, guidelines will be established to create a system capable of identifying domestic and cross-border cyber security risks, preventing related incidents, and responding effectively to potential contingencies.