NAIROBI, Kenya, May 16 – The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) is preparing a data protection and processing policy that will be used by media houses in the country.
MCK Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Omwoyo underscored the importance of data protection when it comes to the code of conduct for media outlets.
“We are getting to a point where media houses are data processors and they would therefore be required by law to have a data protection and processing policy,” the CEO said earlier today at a media breakfast hosted by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) in Nairobi.
The meeting, which brought together media industry stakeholders, sensitized media players on the modalities of instituting internal policies to mitigate data breaches as well as the need to work with the media for balanced reporting.
“As journalists, if we are going to collect information and data then we will have to show how you receive, process and disseminate them, “said Omwoyo, adding that statistics and data can be used as proof of anything.
“From time to time they (data) can prove anything.”
ODPC Commissioner Immaculate Kassait echoed Omwoyo’s sentiments, arguing the need for all data controllers to be registered with the office.
“Even as we automate and go digital, can we do it in a civilized manner “said Kassait even as she called for transparency and accuracy in journalistic practice.
The data protection office also said it was in the final stages of creating data protection guidelines for the media industry.
It called on the media to see the Data Protection Act as a complement but not a bottleneck for journalistic practice.
