Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The Saudi higher authorities have approved the adoption of a messaging service initiative on the Tawakkalna application as an official channel for government and private agencies to communicate with individuals, Okaz/Saudi Gazette has learned from well-informed sources.

Tawakkalna application, affiliated with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAAI), is one of the government-automated systems and electronic means that government agencies may use to communicate with individuals and receive messages and notifications therein.

SDAAI is the competent authority in the Kingdom concerned with data and AI including big data.

The new directive stipulates that a service level agreement must be concluded between the government entity wishing to benefit from the service and SDAAI to ensure the quality of the service provided and meet the requirements for its provision.

The decision stressed that the government entity should not have any financial obligation in exchange for benefiting from this service, and that it should comply with the regulatory texts related to the protection of individuals’ personal data, and enables individuals to have the ability to delete messages and notifications sent through this service after reading them.

It is also to be adhered to what the National Cybersecurity Authority issues in terms of governance policies and mechanisms, frameworks, standards, controls and guidelines related to cybersecurity, as well as what is issued by the Digital Government Authority (DGA).

The decision stipulated that SDAAI should submit a report to the Council of Ministers on the results of implementing the service, within a period not exceeding one year from the date of its implementation.

The decision stipulated obtaining the individual’s explicit consent to communicate with him through this service and to receive messages and notifications therein, while granting the individual the right to withdraw, at any time, the consent he had previously given.

The authority stressed that government agencies should not rely entirely on this service, when they choose to benefit from it and after the individual’s approval as mentioned, in communicating with individuals and delivering messages and notifications through it.

It must resort to other approved means, including electronic means, in communicating with individuals in addition to this service and delivering messages and notifications through it, in order to ensure the delivery of the messages and notifications that are required to be delivered.