Parliamentarians have described the proposed Maldives 2.0 Digital Transformation Bill as a crucial piece of legislation for the country's future, as debate on the government-backed bill commenced in Parliament.
The bill, introduced by Parliamentarian for Gadhdhoo constituency Mohamed Ali, seeks to provide a legal framework for the Maldives' digital transformation efforts. A majority of members who participated in the preliminary debate expressed support for the legislation, stating that it would benefit citizens by improving access to public services and strengthening data security.
During the debate, Parliamentarians noted that the bill would accelerate efforts to align the Maldives with global digital developments while providing the legal foundation needed to modernise government services.
Parliamentarian for Funadhoo constituency Mohamed Mamdhooh said the legislation would help close gaps that have previously enabled corruption and misuse of public resources, regardless of which administration is in power. He stated that government institutions must adapt to technological advancements and that such transitions require strong legal frameworks.
"A Data Protection Bill has been introduced to this Parliament. A Cybersecurity Bill has been introduced to this Parliament. Historically and up until today, various personal data have been stored. Even though these data exist in the Maldives, they have lacked legal protection until now. This government and this Parliament are working to provide the necessary legal empowerment to protect this data," Mamdhooh said.
Parliamentarian for Feydhoo North constituency Ismail Nizar said the bill was not simply a technology-related measure, but a framework designed to support the Maldives' vision of becoming a Digital First Nation.
He noted that Maldives Digital Services had already been established and that the proposed legislation would provide the legal authority needed to govern its operations.
"When government offices develop software, build applications or procure systems, the mandatory requirements and criteria for those systems are now explicitly written down. This was not the case before; previously, every office operated in isolation," Nizar said.
While supporting the overall objectives of the bill, Parliamentarian for Kanditheemu constituency Ameen Faisal called for extensive consultation with industry experts during the committee review stage.
He urged Parliament to seek the views of qualified professionals, members of the public and young people working in the technology sector to further strengthen the legislation.
"There are good components in this bill. However, since this is a highly technical bill, there are highly qualified, patriotic, apolitical and talented young Maldivians educated in this field. My request is for the committee to provide adequate time to consult them, allowing the insights of professionals, the general public and the youth who envision a digital Maldives to be incorporated into this bill," Ameen said.
During the debate, some opposition Parliamentarians alleged that the legislation could serve as a pathway towards the introduction of electronic voting.
However, the majority of Parliamentarians who spoke on the bill rejected the claim, stating that there are no provisions relating to electronic voting within the proposed legislation.