The Maldives government has submitted a new Cyber Security Bill to Parliament aimed at strengthening the country’s cyber safety and establishing a National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA).

The bill was presented to the People’s Majlis by PNC MP Hussain Nasih on behalf of the government. It seeks to create a strong legal framework to protect the country’s cyber environment, improve cybersecurity standards, and enhance preparedness against digital threats.

Under the bill, the NCSA will be responsible for planning and organizing national cybersecurity measures. The agency will be governed by a board consisting of a chairperson, a chief executive, and three additional members.

The proposed law will identify critical information infrastructure sectors, including banking, electricity, water systems, healthcare, and communication networks, and introduce mandatory cybersecurity standards for both state and private sector systems.

According to MP Nasih, the bill also aims to strengthen the Maldives’ ability to detect domestic and cross-border cyber threats, prevent cyberattacks, and respond effectively to incidents such as hacking, data theft, and system damage.

The legislation proposes fines ranging from MVR 1,000 to MVR 1 million for offenses under the law.

The government says the bill is essential to protect key national infrastructure and ensure that information systems connected to vital services meet strong security requirements