Saudi higher authorities approves the adoption of a messaging service initiative on Tawakkalna application

According to reliable sources, Okaz/Saudi Gazette learned that the messaging service initiative on the Tawakkalna application has been recognised by the higher authorities in Saudi Arabia as an official route for communication between private and public institutions and people. One government-automated system and electronic channel that government agencies may utilise to interact with people and receive messages and notifications is the Tawakkalna application, which is connected to the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAAI). SDAAI is the competent authority concerned with data and AI including big data, in the Kingdom.

In order to guarantee the quality of the service and satisfy the standards for its supply, a service level agreement must be reached between the government body seeking to profit from the service and SDAAI, as per the new regulation, The ruling emphasised that the government body should not be subject to any financial obligations in return for using this service, that it should abide by the laws pertaining to the protection of people's personal information, and that people should be able to remove messages and notifications they receive through this service after reading them.

In terms of cybersecurity governance policies and procedures, frameworks, standards, controls, and guidelines, compliance with the directives issued by the Digital Government Authority (DGA) and the National Cybersecurity Authority is also required.

As per the decision, SDAAI was required to report to the Council of Ministers on the outcomes of the service's implementation, within a maximum of one year from the date of implementation. The ruling said that it was necessary to have the person's express agreement before using this service to contact with him and to receive messages and alerts from him. It also gave the person the option to revoke his prior approval at any time.