12. 09. 2014

Journalists cautioned against violating privacy

12.9.2014. (Beta, B92) - It is unacceptable that the media are publishing data on crime suspects and their victims, Rodoljub Šabić has said.

The commissioner for information of public importance and personal data protection on Friday once again warned against the practice.

"What is legally particularly sensitive data from medical records appears in some media, results of polygraph tests taken by suspects, complete content of testimonies given by detainees - although an attempt to obtain them, for example through the rights guaranteed by the Law on Free Access to Information would almost certainly fail either because these are secrets or because it would jeopardize the course of the (legal) proceedings," Šabić said in a written statement.

According to him, the worst examples include publishing of information that identifies underage victims of crime.

"I respect the legally guaranteed right of journalists not to disclose their sources, I neither ask, nor expect them to do so. I am merely appealing on journalists and the media to refrain from publishing information that is grossly offending to privacy," Šabić said.

He recalled that the journalistic code of ethics stipulates the media cannot convey information, even if competent state authorities disclose it, that infringes on the privacy of perpetrators or their victims.

"A mistake made by the state authorities does not imply permission to violate ethical principles of the profession," warned Šabić.

He stressed that what was especially worrying was the fact sources of this information were civil servants, and added this was a criminal offense punishable by up to three years in prison.

"The commissioner of course cannot conduct criminal proceedings, that is for the legally designated authority. I think it is really about time that they pay the necessary, much greater attention to the phenomenon that I am addressing," concluded Šabić.