Personal data is excessively collected in Moldova, study

The Republic of Moldova faces major systemic problems as regards the observance of the right to private life. Updating the legal framework on the protection of the personal data, taking appropriate measures to penalize the related violations and fully reassessing the necessity of collecting personal data and the period of keeping them are only some of the recommendations contained in the study “Protection of personal data in the context of the dialogue on the liberalization of the visa regime and negotiation of the future Association Agreement between Moldova and the EU”. The analysis was made at the suggestion and with the financial support of the Good Governance Program of Soros Foundation Moldova by Bogdan Manolea, affiliated expert of the Romanian Center for European Policies, Info-Prim Neo reports. The author of the study said it can take up to one year to adjust the legislation and institutional framework to the European standards, but more years are needed for implementation. “The personal data protection area in Moldova appeared two years ago and reached an appropriate development level meanwhile. The legislative body adopted a new law on personal data in first reading, but there are a number of institutional and implementation-related problems. The private individuals and legal entities do not know what personal data mean and what rights and obligations they have,” said Bogdan Manolea. He also said that the EU has a very clear legal framework on personal data protection that was developed during the last 20 years in different member states. Moldova should implement it if it wants to obtain a liberalized visa regime with the EU. According to Bogdan Manolea, they excessively collect personal data in the public institutions in Moldova and there are no limits set. Vasile Foltea, vice director of the National Center for the Protection of Personal Data, said there are a number of shortcomings in the personal data protection system though a lot of work is done together with the public authorities. “We consider there should be implemented an automated information system called “Register of Personal Data Holders”. At the initial stage, we focused on the adjustment of the national normative framework to the international standards and requirements. A lot was done. We believe we will achieve most of the set objectives,” said Vasile Foltea. A bill providing for the penalization of the violations regarding personal data was sent to most of the relevant authorities and entities for approval and will be soon presented to the Government and Parliament.