Problems regarding personal data protection

Healthcare, wiretapping and political parties’ funding are the domains which have the most problems with the protection of personal data. It’s still difficult to make a clear difference between public interest and defending private life, which allows news media in search of sensational to exploit this vulnerability. The topic has been debated during the “Personal data protection- limits of the freedom of expression” round table organized by IDIS, Info-Prim Neo reports. “Problems occur because of the uncertainty regarding the notions of private life, personal data. I think we need a regulation that would stipulate all the data that can be labeled “personal”, so as to avoid ambiguity and interpretations. Otherwise, we’ll engage in conflicts and in court we’ll suddenly face other interpretations”, juridical expert of the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT, Corneliu Gurin said. Personal data protection is threatened by officials’ ignorance and journalists’ excessive curiosity. Besides, the National Center of Personal Data Protection, which should ensure the security of confidential information, has no legal tools to intervene, according to experts. “We simply don’t have the means to assure data protection. If an employee uses a database in personal purpose, we can’t do nothing but state the infringement, but it’s up to his boss whether to punish him or not”, said Vasile Foltea, deputy director of the National Center of Personal Data Protection. The round table is part of the IDIS project “Developing and Promoting a Modern Media Environment in Moldova”. The project is implemented in partnership with the Center of Journalistic Investigations. Cornelia Cozonac, head of the latter institution, mentioned that journalists often are restricted access to personal data of dignitaries, although the information would be used in articles of public interest. The event is organized during the “Right to Know Days”, held by Access-Info Center to mark 10 years since the Law regarding access to information was signed.