Microsoft’s data centre region project needs data security laws

I was asked by The Malaysian Reserve to comment on MICROSOFT Corp’s US$1 billion (RM4 billion) investment to establish its first data centre region in Malaysia, particularly on the data security laws aspect. I said-

Bar Council’s Information Technology and Cyber Laws Committee deputy chairman Foong Cheng Leong said new regulations should be introduced to protect such data centres once they are opened to the general public.

For example, he said the government could set up regulations against the seizure of equipment or surrendering of data to authorities, as well as laws to protect against intermediary liabilities.

Additionally, he said the data centre region would promote further data localisation, particularly for the government to improve data safety and protection.

“It may also be useful for the government to direct its agencies to store their data in such local data centres. Many data these days are held overseas and we do not know where they are stored.

“A data localisation requirement would be useful in helping Malaysians protect their personal data,” Foong told The Malaysian Reserve (TMR) recently.