Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa has alleged that the main objective of the "Maldives 2.0 Digital Transformation Bill"—which proposes granting extensive legal powers to "Maldives Digital Service" under the Ministry of Homeland Security to manage state data and citizens' personal information—is to transition the nation's voting system to electronic voting (e-voting).
The bill, introduced by Gadhdhoo MP Mohamed Ali, seeks to establish "Maldives Digital Service" as one of the most powerful institutions in the country. Speaking during the preliminary debate on the bill, Ghafoor expressed deep concerns regarding its implications.
"This bill is nothing other than a proposal to move towards e-voting for the 2028 presidential election; this is the preparation for that," said Ghafoor, one of the most experienced parliamentarians, as he questioned the government's intentions.
Maldives Digital Service to be granted powers to oversee personal data
The Maldives government has introduced bills to grant the "Maldives Digital Service" extensive powers over the nation's digital identity and personal data. This agency will manage a centralized citizen portal and sovereign cloud infrastructure. The legislation aims to streamline state data while consolidating authority under one institution.
Ruling PNC MPs who participated in the debate denied Ghafoor’s allegations, asserting that the government has no plans to transition the electoral system to e-voting. However, Ghafoor maintained that the government realizes it cannot win through a legitimate manual ballot.
"They know they cannot win an election by taking a valid vote. That is why this bill has been drafted to implement e-voting; the legal framework to move towards e-voting is now prepared right here," Ghafoor said.
The bill specifies that the procedures for many of its provisions will be established through regulations formulated under the Act. Ghafoor argued that the transition to e-voting would be facilitated through such regulations.
As currently drafted, the Digital Transformation Bill provides Parliament with limited oversight and accountability mechanisms over the new institution. The bill states that the agency will operate under the Ministry of Homeland Security, with the Minister of Homeland Security being the authority accountable to Parliament for its affairs.
