Page 74 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

Preparing for the future – players to take basis. Arbitraging between cooperation, Such new individual laws, such as South
stances, governments to close gaps compliance and customer trust has been Korea’s provisions passed after the 2015
The above mentioned apps/ mechanisms a conundrum in many cases, as illustrated MERS outbreak, will undoubtedly redefine
can be critical for privacy as they gather by Apple’s decisions. Apple has decided to the regulatory landscape, however it is key
more data than Telcos ever did, and hence develop its own contact-tracing platform that global alignment is maintained as the
appropriate regulations are required for with Google, enabling interoperable data sharing paradigm evolves, given that
governments, smartphone manufacturers, Bluetooth communication between data protection regulations and measures
app-store managers or whichever entity devices for official apps without funneling are intertwined globally. For instance, EU
is developing and administering these to central governmental server for privacy authorities will have to adapt their cross-
apps/ mechanism, especially in countries reasons. In fact, it has embarked on a border data sharing rules as some countries
where national data protection laws do confrontational course with countries update their former data protection
not exist yet. Even when not directly such as the UK and France, which have mechanisms, prompting alterations to
involved with app development, Telcos decided to develop their own top-down the multinational data transfer landscape.
have been solicited in several cases apps and have asked Apple to remove Such changes can bring new opportunities
to give them privileged access (e.g. to restrictions on Bluetooth usage. Apple and risks for Telcos which will only
Bluetooth communications) or to push has refused, provoking the ire of several become clear with time, however as a
them into smartphones on an opt-out legislators, that claim the firm is slowing broad guidance to navigate this complex
down efforts to stop spread of the virus. regulatory landscape, Telcos need to have
Countries are already Despite immediate reputational risk, Apple their priorities right in order to ensure
drafting new regulations could benefit from its decision, as it did in legal compliance, while also maintaining
to address the gaps. In 2016 when refusing to provide access to amenable relations with governments as
well as trust of their customers.
an iPhone as sought by Federal Bureau of
Armenia, the parliament Investigation (FBI), ended up reinforcing
on 31st March passed customer trust in the company. Learning As a broad guidance to
from the above, taking a stance for privacy,
amendments giving when supported by firm regulatory and navigate this complex

the authorities broad ethical grounds, can be a sound decision regulatory landscape,
surveillance powers for Telcos as well. Telcos need to have their
that require Telcos to Countries are already drafting new priorities right in order to
share phone records for regulations to address the gaps. In Armenia, ensure legal compliance,
the parliament on 31st March passed
customers, including amendments giving the authorities broad while also maintaining
phone numbers, location, surveillance powers that require Telcos amenable relations with
time, and date of their calls to share phone records for customers, governments as well as
including phone numbers, location, time,
and text messages. and date of their calls and text messages. trust of their customers.

74 MAY 2020