Ezulwini – The Eswatini Data Protection Authority (EDPA) has launched its 2026 Data Protection awareness campaign, which will run until 30 January, under the theme “Take Control of Your Data.” The campaign calls on Emaswati to move from being passive participants in the digital economy to empowered owners of their personal information.
Since the enactment of the Data Protection Act of 2022, Eswatini has joined the global community of nations that recognize privacy as a fundamental human right. The EDPA says that legislation is only as effective as the public’s understanding of it. “Personal data, your name, ID number, location, and even your browsing habits, is a treasure,” the authority said. “Organizations must respect that treasure, and citizens must know how to guard the keys.”
The EDPA outlined eight fundamental rights that every Emaswati should be aware of. The right to be informed ensures citizens know why their data is being collected and how it will be used. The right of access allows individuals to ask organizations if they hold their data and to request a copy. The right to rectification provides the ability to correct inaccurate or outdated information. The right to erasure, also known as the right to be forgotten, permits citizens in certain circumstances to have their data deleted. The right to restrict processing allows individuals to limit how organizations use their data if its accuracy or lawfulness is disputed. The right to data portability enables citizens to receive their data in a format that can easily be transferred to another service provider. The right to object gives individuals the ability to refuse their data being used for direct marketing or profiling. Rights related to automated decision-making protect citizens against significant decisions made solely by systems without human intervention.
The EDPA also issued a clear message to businesses in both the public and private sectors. No organization may collect personal data unless it is registered with the authority. With the 31 March 2026 compliance deadline approaching, organizations are currently conducting data mapping exercises to identify every flow of information in their systems. “Transparency is not optional,” the EDPA said. “It is the foundation of the trust that drives our economy.”
Emaswati are encouraged to take small steps such as reading privacy notices on apps, asking shops why certain information is required, and checking for the EDPA registration certificate before sharing personal data.
For more information on citizens’ rights or to report a data grievance, the public can visit www.edpa.org.sz or contact the Data Protection Officer at 2406 7000.
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