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18. 09. 2008

THE OMBUDSMAN HAS SENT AMENDMENTS TO THE PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION ACT TO THE PARLIAMENT FOR ADOPTION

Official statement by the Ombudsman on ammendments to the Personal Data Protection Act

Belgrade, September 18, 2008 (Source: Office of Ombudsman) - Ombudsman has sent several amendments to the Draft Law on Personal Data Protection to Serbian National Parliament today. The overall purpose of these amendments is to provide effective and complete protection of the constitutionally guaranteed right to personal data protection.

The most important amendment will serve to remove the possibility for institutions to process personal data that rely solely on their own judgement and, citing the national and public security reasons, national defence, or prevention, uncovering, investigation and criminal persecution reasons, render any sort of control over their own work impossible for the institution that otherwise control their work.

At the same time, the amendments envisage a more effective way to protect national security and other legally protected interests, in cases when such interests are more important and temporarily prevail over the rights of an individual. The necessity to improve the Draft Law on Personal Data Protection in this respect was pointed out to by the Commissioner for Information with Public Importance. The Commissioner's jurisdiction and mandate will be broadened to include personal data protection once this Law is passed and adopted in the National Parliament.

To download the proposed Amendments to the Draft Law on Personal Data Protection, please visit the Ombudsman's Internet site (available only in Serbian).

*ANEM to condemn RATEL'S Technical Conditions Documents content and way of its adoption, July 29th 2008