The government is planning to regulate the Data Bureau of Fiji next year as it may be breaching several provisions in the constitution.
Speaking at the Consumer Council of Fiji Open Forum, Attorney General and Minister for Finance Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says there have been discussions at the government level about the Data Bureau of Fiji not having a legislative framework.
He adds that in certain cases, people are actually being forced to consent to the systems and processes being used by the Data Bureau.
Sayed-Khaiyum says the government will be looking at the whole basis of the Data Bureau of Fiji next year and how financial institutions should be using it.
He says it is in the interest of everyone that financial institutions collaborate with government and ensure that they are transparent.
Meanwhile, Consumer Council of Fiji, CEO Premila Kumar says the government has to make the Data Bureau more accountable as they sometimes wrongfully penalize consumers.
Kumar claims that the Data Bureau is playing around with consumers information.
She says the only way forward for the government is to introduce a legislation that recognizes the Data Bureau and stipulates its responsibilities very clearly.
The Data Bureau began its operations in Fiji in 2001 and it was an initiative of a group of financial institutions and insurance companies.
