AD concerned over lack of transparency in public appointments

Alternattiva Demokratika has expressed concern over the lack of transparency in public appointments.

In a statement, AD chairperson Arnold Cassola said the silent appointment of Sai Mizzi Liang, wife of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi, at Malta Enterprise was worrying.

"Now the government set up an agency that will centralise key identity databases without the knowledge of departmental director-generals or even the Information and Data Protection Commissioner.  Who is the 'invisible man' dishing out these 'secret' appointments?" Cassola said.

MaltaToday has learnt that Identity Malta will be run by Joe Vella Bonnici, currently the home affairs ministry's consultant supervising the setting up of Identity Malta.

AD spokesperson for a Digital Society Henrik Piski said it was unacceptable for a democratic society not to ensure data protection.

"It is not acceptable for a democratic society that a government institution is being set up in order to centralise, collect and store information on citizens without ensuring that proper safeguards are in place. Alternattiva Demokratika urges government to take the necessary steps to ensure that such safeguards are clear to all," Piski said.

"Recent scandals like the one of the National Security Agency, in the USA, show how important it is to ensure the rights of privacy and control of access to personal data."