Earlier this year, the Malaysian Personal Data Protection Department released several documents to aid data users in their compliance with the Malaysian Personal Data Protection Act 2010 – these include a guide on privacy notices, new codes of practice applicable to the private healthcare industry and the water utilities industry, as well as circulars reminding prescribed classes of data users of their registration obligations.
In an announcement made on 4 March 2022, the Philippine National Privacy Commission officially extended the validity of all existing Certificates of Registration issued in 2021 from 8 March 2022 to 8 March 2023. For Certificates of Registration issued in 2020 or earlier, which are expiring this 8 March 2022, the NPC is directing all affected personal information controllers and personal information processors to renew their registration with the Commission.
On 18 January 2022, HM Treasury confirmed that it will bring certain cryptoassets into the scope of the financial promotion regime. The Treasury’s view is that the evidence of risks to consumers provides a strong case for intervention, and as such it intends to expand the scope of the Financial Promotions Order to include cryptoassets. The Treasury’s announcement was followed the next day by the launch of an FCA consultation on strengthening the financial promotion rules for high-risk investments, including cryptoassets.
A recent case before the South Africa Competition Tribunal looked at the excessive pricing of breast cancer treatment. This led to the question as to whether a violation of competition law should automatically be considered a violation of the Constitution.
The Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team (SingCERT), set up by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore to facilitate the detection, resolution and prevention of cybersecurity-related incidents on the internet, has issued a list of measures that organisations should adopt to ensure proper cyber hygiene controls are in place and operating correctly. SingCERT’s advisory is issued on the basis of warnings of increased cyber threats globally arising from the recent cyberattacks on Ukraine and the developments in the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
On 27 January 2022, the government issued Decree No. 14/2022/ND-CP to amend and supplement several provisions of Decree No. 15/2020/ND-CP on penalties for administrative violations in the fields of postal services, telecommunications, radio frequency, information technology and electronic transactions, and Decree No. 119/2020/ND-CP on penalties for administrative violations in journalistic and publishing activity. Decree No. 14 was issued with the aim of: implementing the new provisions of the amended Law on Handling Administrative Violations, supplementing sanctions for the violating acts, including those regarding spam, illegal content, social network management, game licensing, etc., and revising and supplementing provisions regarding the authorities to fine administrative violations.
Singapore authorities have introduced measures to combat SMS-phishing scams. These measures include the anti-SMS spoofing registry.
On 10 April 2020, the prime minister approved, under Decision No. 503/QD-TTg, a mission to formulate a national infrastructure plan for oil and gas reserves and supply for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. In accordance with this decision, on 31 December 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Trade released a draft for comments from relevant agencies. The Draft Plan covers two main areas: reserves, and supply.
Vietnam has introduced a new extended producer responsibility regime that places responsibility on producers and importers to manage waste associated with the full life-cycle of their products. EPR in Vietnam is implemented via Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP implementing some Articles in the Law on Environmental Protection, and Circular No. 02/2022/TT-BTNMT on the Detailed Implementation of some Articles in the Law on Environmental Protection.
On 4 January 2022, the new UK foreign investment review regime under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 came into force. The new rules require businesses and investors to submit mandatory notifications for certain acquisitions of, and investments in, companies active in 17 key sectors of the economy. They also grant the Government extensive powers to investigate and impose conditions on a wide range of transactions (including both corporate investments and asset transactions) on national security grounds.