Minister of Technology Dr Andrew Wheatley says with the increased sophistication in fraud schemes, data privacy and protection have become more paramount.

He made the statement at the office of the Information Commissioner’s International Data Privacy Conference this morning.

Dr Wheatley pointed to recent arrests by the Major Organised Crime and Anticorruption Agency, where it is alleged that persons obtained genuine data to conduct fraud, saying this symbolises the sophistication in fraud schemes in these times.

However, Dr Wheatley believes behind every fraud incident is a failure of data protection.

He noted that there are steps which must be taken to combat fraud schemes such as: enabling rapid response, being proactive, anticipate a-i powered threats among other things.