Background checks are among the most important procedures that companies and organizations should undertake to ensure the suitability of candidates for various job positions. However, this process must be carried out with respect for the privacy rights of the individuals involved, especially in light of the Egyptian Personal Data Protection Law.
The Egyptian Personal Data Protection Law, issued under Law No. 151 of 2020, stipulates that the collection and processing of personal data are legally permissible only if done with the explicit consent of the individual concerned. Article (2) of this law states that the collection or processing of personal data is not allowed except with the explicit consent of the person to whom the data pertains. This consent enables companies and organizations to conduct the necessary checks, provided they inform individuals of the scope and purposes of collecting their data. This article also outlines the rights of the data subject, which cannot be infringed upon during the collection and processing of personal data. These rights include the right to access their data, correct, modify, delete, add, or update their personal data, object to the processing of their personal data, or withdraw their prior consent to retain or process their data.
