ASSESSING THE EFFETIVENESS OF THE LAWS IN PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN IN TANZANIA

In the digital age, the proliferation of online data has transformed how personal data is collected, stored and disseminated. This shift has led to increasing concerns about privacy and the potentials for misuse of personal data. The right to be forgotten, as a remedy empowers individuals to request the removal of their personal information from the internet, has emerged as a crucial aspect of data protection and privacy rights. Further, the right to be forgotten is initially recognized in the European Union through the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), this concept has inspired discussions around the need for similar protections on other jurisdictions, including Tanzania. In Tanzania, the digital landscape surrounding data protection has evolved significantly, particularly with the enactment of the Personal Data Protection Act, 2022. This law aims to regulate the processing of personal data and safeguard the privacy rights of individuals. However, the effectiveness of the law in addressing the right to be forgotten remains uncertain. Therefore, this article seeks to assess the existing legal regime governing the right to be forgotten and challenges facing effective protection of the right in Tanzania.