The government has dismissed claims its data is stored in Germany, reaffirming all sensitive information remains in-country.
In a statement issued yesterday, Tonga’s Digital Transformation Department clarified that all government data is securely hosted at the Government Data Centre in Tonga, not overseas.
The clarification followed public speculation that the government’s new digital portal involved offshore data storage, with Germany specifically named in online discussions.
“This is incorrect,” the government said in its media release. “All government data remains securely hosted at the Government Data Center in Tonga.”
The new Government Portal is part of a broader e-Government Project funded by the World Bank. Spanish-based firm Aninver was contracted to build the system through the World Bank’s procurement process.
According to the government, the portal has two components: a front-end interface temporarily hosted on Aninver’s secure servers, and a back-end system where data is permanently stored within Tonga.
Officials explained that temporary hosting of the website’s public interface is standard practice, allowing safe development and testing before full local deployment.
“No government data is stored outside of Tonga,” the statement read. “The integrity, sovereignty, and security of our national information systems remain a top priority.”
The front-end is expected to be fully migrated to Tonga’s data centre by early next week.
