Legal and Regulatory Issues Understanding the Challenges!
Egypt’s Experience
Dr. Ahmed M. Darwish
Presentation Agenda
E-commerce Highlights E-government Highlights Key Issues Egyptian E-signature Act Telecommunications Act
Egypt’s E-commerce Highlights
Oct’97 Aug’98 Sep’98 Sep’99 Oct’99 2000-02 ISE-E-commerce Committee formed 1st meeting of the National E-commerce Committee 1st National Seminar on E-commerce E-commerce initiative declared E-commerce in the National CIT Plan Cyber laws (e-signature, e-payment, ..); Government Pilots; Private Portals Documents for standards
Egypt’s E-government Highlights
Oct’00 May’01 Jul’01 Drafting Vision and Strategy Document Parliament Approval of Program Official Start 5 Projects: Basic Infra-structure (Legal/Regulatory/…) Service Provision Back-Office Automation Government Communications Network Government Procurement
اCitizens
Companies Investors Suppliers Service Centers
Internet Networks
Telephone
Bawaba
Government Network
Firewalls
Ministries
Networks Standards Doc. Classification & Special service Handling needs
National Database Infrastructure
E-Payment Standards PKI Security Specifications Application development E-Signature
Some Key Issues
Legislation (cyber laws): Electronic Signature & Electronic Contracting Customs & Taxes Jurisdiction Encryption, IPR, privacy, security, consumer protection, domain names, trade marks, etc. Regulation (Certificate Authorities, etc.) Documents for standards (Net & Msg, Security, …) Banking infrastructure (e-payment) E-Insurance (financial, commerce, etc.) E-Education & E-Knowledge
Some Key Questions?!
Who is responsible for E-commerce? How can government empower the use of Ecommerce? How can SMEs understand the challenges and opportunities of E-commerce? How to help create, empower, and support Egyptian E-business models? Where do we go from here?
An Electronic Signature Act for Egypt
An Overview
Drafting an Electronic Signature Act: The Process
National Electronic Signature Committee (entities): Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Ministry of Justice Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade Ministry of Finance Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Interior Ministry for Administrative Development Central Bank of Egypt Cabinet Information & Decision Support Center
Drafting an Electronic Signature Act: The Process (Cont.)
National Electronic Signature Committee (legal and technology experts): Governmental, Private sector, and Academic
Drafting an Electronic Signature Act: Some Key Issues
Amending existing laws vs. creating a “new” law Recognition of electronic/digital documents and signatures Creation of a state organization for regulatory, licensing, and supervisory roles General awareness and training programs Protecting IPR and privacy
E-signature Act: The Main Points
Recognizing electronic/digital signatures and document Scope: Commercial, Administrative, Civil Sectors Technology Independence Establishing a regulatory body for CAs Recognizing “foreign” CAs
Following Up!
Four sub-committees: Electronic Contracting E-Payment Customs and Taxes CyberCrime
Telecommunications Act An Overview
Creation of regulatory body separate from incumbent operator Signing of the BTA Liberalizing services Mobile services Internet Service Providers … Managing Spectrum
For More Information
visit Ministry of Communications and Information Technology http://www.mcit.gov.eg/ or e-mail: darwish@mcit.gov.eg
Thank you.