“Relying on the government to protect your privacy is like asking a peeping Tom to install your window blinds,”
an American poet, essayist, cattle rancher, and cyberlibertarian political activist, John Perry Barlow
ISN’T it unsettling when someone is privy to every aspect of your life?
From your income to your debts and the savings you set aside for emergencies.
It is like having your privacy invaded making you feel vulnerable, knowing that someone else holds such intimate knowledge about you without your consent.
Privacy, especially concerning personal information, is considered a fundamental human right by many organisations and legal systems worldwide.
It is enshrined in various international agreements and laws, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.
The right to privacy encompasses the protection of individuals’ personal data, communications and autonomy over their own lives.
Violations of privacy can lead to significant harm including breaches of confidentiality, identity theft and infringement of personal freedoms.
As such, safeguarding privacy is crucial for upholding human dignity, autonomy and freedom of expression.
Earlier this year, the federal government launched the Central Database Hub (PADU) which is supposed to pave the way towards a fairer distribution of targeted subsidies for Malaysians in need.
Considered the most comprehensive database established by the government to date, PADU is a system containing individual and household profiles encompassing citizens and permanent residents in Malaysia.
The objectives of PADU is to provide a safe, comprehensive and near real-time national main database that enables more accurate data analytics to be produced for policy formulation and data-drive decision making processes.
It is also said to enable the government to deploy targeted policy implementation to balance the fiscal position.
Last week, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah created waves with his personal opinion on PADU.
To quote his words, ‘individuals bare themselves naked the moment they fill out PADU’.
I honestly agree with Abdul Karim because I made the mistake of accessing the website and registering myself.
I suppose my actions were motivated by the constant text messages reminding the public to input their information on PADU before the end of this month.
As I proceeded to enter my identification number and set up a password, I was astonished to find that every minute detail – from my home and workplace addresses to my salary, was already preloaded.
While I was filling things in I started feeling insecure and worried, the thought of my personal information being in the wrong hands started to gnaw at me.
I couldn’t shake off the feeling of vulnerability, realising the potential consequences if this data fell into the hands of malicious actors.
It wasn’t just about financial information anymore; it was about my privacy, my security and even my safety.
The responsibility to safeguard personal data is paramount, yet the increasing digitisation of our lives has made it all the more challenging to ensure its protection.
I couldn’t help but wonder if the convenience of online services was worth the risk of exposing such intimate details of my life.
The criticism of PADU from the public and experts, particularly that of Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), struck me the most.
They claimed that government agencies are shielded from legal action in the event of data leakage or theft from PADU, citing a provision under section 3(1) of the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA) that seems to exempt the government from its application.
According to LFL director Zaid Malek, whilst there are valid reasons advanced why this initiative is necessary, there are legitimate and serious concerns regarding the protection and security of the data collected.
“As it stands, the data collected by PADU can be disseminated or used by the government beyond its declared purpose of targeted subsidies. There have been cases of misuse of data by the government before where personal data were used to disseminate propaganda by way of SMS to the public,” he said.
So yes, Abdul Karim made a very valid point on how filling PADU would render one exposed bare and naked.
It is not about evading taxes or hiding anything illicit.
It is about safeguarding oneself from the multitude of threats that come with the digital age.
The fear of falling victim to scams or identity theft looms large, especially when our personal information is readily available online.
Scammers can use even the smallest details to craft convincing schemes, making it crucial to be vigilant and proactive in protecting our privacy.
Unfortunately, it is a tricky and delicate balance between embracing technology and ensuring our security.
It is one that requires constant awareness and diligence in today’s interconnected world.
