The bill intends to safeguard individual privacy and ensure responsible data handling.
Members of the House of Representatives (HoR) have meanwhile, instructed the Committee on Post and Telecommunication to scrutinize a proposed law intended to safeguard individual privacy and ensure responsible data handling.
According to a release, the House Plenary decision was taken on Tuesday, June 10, during the 9th day sitting of the 2nd Quarter of the 2nd Session of the 55th Legislature.
The Bill titled: “An Act For The Collection, Processing, Transmission, Storage, Protection, and Use of Personal Information In Liberia,” was submitted to the Legislature by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai.
“The Bill seeks to govern the processing of all forms of personal information by both individual and entities handling the personal data of residents in Liberia, the ECOWAS Region, or beyond, including data controllers and processors.” Pres. Boakai said in his communication.
When enacted by the Legislature, the law will also establish robust legal framework to safeguard personal data privacy, covering its collection, processing, transmission, storage, and usage and at the same time respecting the broader interest of the individual and state.
Following the reading and debate on the instrument, Plenary unanimously voted to forward the Bill to the Committee on Post and Telecommunications to review and advise the full body within two weeks.
Gov’t Condemns
In a related development, the government has strongly criticized one of the local dailies (FrontPage Africa) for “misleading” headline regarding a recent directive from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL).
Government therefore called on the media outlet to exercise greater editorial responsibility.
The controversial headline, which suggested that the CBL was targeting opposition lawmakers specifically former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, has ignited public debate and drawn backlash from government officials and commentators.
At the Ministry of Information, regular press briefing on Tuesday June 10, 2025, Deputy Minister for Public Affairs, Daniel O. Sando, expressed disappointment in the newspaper’s editorial decision.
“This is not the first time FrontPage Africa has come under scrutiny,” Sando said.
“While we acknowledge the importance of press freedom and the media’s role in holding institutions accountable, we urge the outlet to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and editorial judgment. The Liberian people deserve journalism that is factual, balanced, and rich in context.”
At the heart of the controversy is a new CBL directive that has been widely misinterpreted.
Contrary to claims implied by the FrontPage Africa the directive does not suspend the issuance of court bonds. Instead, it introduces a pre-approval process requiring commercial banks and insurance companies to secure written clearance from the CBL’s Insurance Department before issuing such bonds.
According to CBL, the new requirement is aimed at ensuring that only financially credible institutions underwrite court bonds.
A move that aligns with international best practices and promotes transparency within the country’s financial and insurance sectors.
“This directive is not a suspension of bond issuance, nor does it violate any citizen’s constitutional right to bail,” the CBL clarified in a statement.
“It is a regulatory measure intended to enhance due diligence and protect the public.”
The guidelines further require financial institutions and insurers to submit certified, audited financial statements and disclose all outstanding bonds before they can be approved to issue new ones.
“The CBL is operating within its legal mandate,” the statement said, adding: “Our focus remains on strengthening institutional integrity and safeguarding the public interest. We are actively engaging with the judiciary and financial stakeholders to ensure the reforms are smoothly implemented.”
The bank has meanwhile, encouraged the public and the media to seek accurate, verified information directly from its communications department.
While FrontPage Africa maintains its reputation as one of the country’s leading investigative journalism platforms, critics argue that the recent headline deviated from the standards of factual and responsible reporting.
Several observers have urged the publication to recommit to journalistic ethics to preserve public trust and maintain its credibility.