Activate data protection law to prevent repeat of political, malicious use of ‘cash grant’ personal data – EU Observer Mission

Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, 21:03 by Writer

The European Union Election Observation Mission’s (EUEOM) final report on the September 1 general and regional elections recommends that government activate the 2023 Data Protection Act to block a repeat of the malicious use of Guyanese personal data, such as those collected for processing of the cash grant, for political purposes.

“Data protection legislation is not in effect, hence politically motivated doxing occurred with impunity and government-held personal data of cash grant receivers appears to have been misused for political gains,” states the report which was published on Tuesday.

One of the observer mission’s priority recommendations is for government to implement the Data Protection Act and establish a publicly
accountable data protection office, thus effectively protecting voters’ personal data from undue publication and from misuse for political gains.

That recommendation comes at a time when public servants are being asked to register for the digital identity card although no commencement order has been issued by Prime Minister Mark Phillips for the Digital Identity Card Act and the Data Protection Act.

The EU observer mission said the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic’s (PPPC) call centre used mobile phone numbers of citizens who received cash grants to solicit votes. Such practices, the observers said, do not accord with Guyana’s international commitments, including the EU – Latin America and Caribbean Joint Declaration on a Digital Alliance ” Hence, politically motivated doxing occurred with impunity and citizens’ mobile phone numbers collected by the government were used to solicit votes,” the mission said.

The EU observer mission said police took no action against perpetrators, intimidating and unwarranted publicity allegedly by PPP/C activists who profiled people visible in photos from We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party events.

“Doxing was primarily used to discourage political participation and critical expression, as well as to expose candidates and voters to harassment.

Several opposition leaning influencers and politicians informed about unlawful publication of their and their family members’ personal data on social media,” states the report which has already been presented to the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and representatives of political parties.

The mission states that a data commissioner is not appointed, a data protection office is not established and there has not been a public debate on the implementation of the Act.

The 2023 Data Protection Act provides for the establishment of a data protection office, led by a commissioner, who is appointed by the President and is tasked to oversee the enforcement.

The EU observer mission praised the quality of the 2023 Data Protection Act, saying it is largely aligned with international standards, detailing the processing of personal data held by various state agencies and private entities, requiring individual consent for the use of personal data and shielding from unwarranted profiling.

In making its recommendation, the EUEOM refers to Article 17 of United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which states that “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy […] Everyone has the right to the protection […] against such interference or attacks.”