scholarly journals ESSENCE OF THE RIGHT TO PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhivka Mateeva ◽  

In the age of the information society, the possibilities for problems of personal data protection related to the danger and threat of adverse consequences for the individual are extremely high. Violation of the right of the individual in connection with the disclosure of personal data is an encroachment on privacy. This paper examines the nature of the right to the protection of personal data, which is an integral part of the right to privacy. On the basis of the analysis of the right to protection of personal data, its essential features, characteristic for the basic human rights, are derived. On this basis, the role of the right to personal data protection is outlined, finding application in various spheres of modern life.

Author(s):  
NATALIA V. VARLAMOVA

Among the digital rights, besides the right for internet access that was the subject of consideration in the first part of the article, there are also a right to per-so nal data protection and a right to be forgotten (right to erasure).The right to personal data protection is usually enshrined at the supranational and national levels and is protected by the courts as an aspect of the right to privacy. As an independent fundamental right of a constitutional nature the right to personal data protection is enshrined in EU law. Nevertheless, all attempts to doctrinally justify the existence of certain aspects of this right, beyond the claims to the right to privacy, can not be considered successful. The Court of Justice of the EU, while dealing with the relevant cases in order to determine whether certain methods of processing personal data are legitimate, also refers to the right to privacy, considering these rights to be closely interrelated. The right to personal data protection provides additional (including procedural) guarantees of respect for privacy, human dignity and some other rights, but the purpose of these guarantees is precisely the content of the providing rights. The right to be forgotten (right to erasure) is one of the positive obligations with regard to the personal data protection. This right implies correction, deletion or termination of the processing of personal data at the request of their subject in the presence of a reason for this (when the relevant actions are carried out in violation of the principles of data processing or provisions of the legislation). Analogs of this right are the Latin American orders of habeas data, as well as the right of a person to demand the refutation of information discrediting his honor, dignity and business reputation, in case of their inconsistency with reality under civil law and the legislation on mass media. In digital age the importance of this right is increased by the fact that information posted on the Internet remains easily accessible for an indefinite, almost unlimited, time.This caused the extension of the right to be forgotten to information that is consistent to reality, but has lost its relevance and significance, however, continues to have an adverse impact on the reputation of the person concerned. At the same time, the realization of the right to be forgotten in respect of information posted online is connected with a number of technical problems that require legal solutions.In general, digitalization does not create new human rights of a fundamentally different legal nature. It only actualizes or smooths certain aspects of long-recognized rights, transfers their operation into the virtual space, creates new opportunities for their realization and generates new threats to them. Ensuring human rights in modern conditions involves the search for adequate legal solutions, taking into account the opportunities and limitations generated by digital technologies.


Author(s):  
Tigran D. Oganesian

The article considers the legality of mass surveillance and protection of personal data in the context of the international human rights law and the right to respect for private life. Special attention is paid to the protection of data on the Internet, where the personal data of billions of people are stored. The author emphasizes that mass surveillance and technology that allows the storage and processing of the data of millions of people pose a serious threat to the right to privacy guaranteed by Article 8 of the ECHR of 1950. Few companies comply with the human rights principles in their operations by providing user data in response to requests from public services. In this regard, States must prove that any interference with the personal integrity of an individual is necessary and proportionate to address a particular security threat. Mandatory data storage, where telephone companies and Internet service providers are required to store metadata about their users’ communications for subsequent access by the law enforcement and intelligence agencies, is neither necessary nor proportionate. The author analyses the legislation of some countries in the field of personal data protection, as well as examples from practice. Practice in many States is evidence of the lack of adequate national legislation and enforcement, weak procedural safeguards and ineffective oversight, which contributes to widespread impunity for arbitrary or unlawful interference with the right to privacy. In conclusion, we propose a number of measures aimed at improving the level of personal data protection in accordance with the international standards. In order to provide guarantees and a minimum level of adequate data protection in the face of new challenges to human rights in an ever-changing digital environment, the author proposes to solve a number of pressing issues. Firstly, States should not have the right to ask companies for and have absolute access to user data without a court order. Secondly, the process of sending a request and receiving data from a telecommunications company should be regulated in detail and transparent. The availability of specialized judges with technical expertise shall be valuable


Author(s):  
Taras Sofiiuk

The article studies the approaches to the concept of the «private sphere» of human life that are present in legal thought. Attentionhas been paid to the principles on the basis of which the human rights and freedoms in interstate relations are protected. The circumstancesthat are important for finding the optimal correlation between the human right to personal data protection and the right to informationare considered. The theoretical approaches to the concept of «three generations» of human rights that are present in legal thoughtare studied. The description of different generations of human rights is given. The discussions on the third generation of human rightswhich are ongoing and show that the list of human rights is not permanent and can be extended are considered. The consideration isgiven to the need to ensure human rights in the information society. Attention is paid to the issue of distinctive features of the «personalrights» category. It is indicated that personal rights are usually attributed to the so-called first generation of rights (in accordance withthe historical stages of affirmation of rights). The circumstances under which the right to respect for privacy arose are clarified. Thephenomenons that form the basis of the right to privacy of personal information and of the awareness of the concept of the «privatesphere» of human life are highlighted. The emergence of the right to respect for privacy as a broader category, which later became thebasis for the development of an independent legal institution of personal data is considered. The history of judicial approbation of thefirst concept of the right to privacy in the United States is reflected. The problematic aspects of legal formation of the right to privacyare considered. The position that is present in legal thought according to which it is advisable to divide the general problem of protectinghuman privacy into sectors that require separate legislative regulation is studied. It is stated that the «personal rights» category meansthat the subject has such acts that ensure his or her autonomy, priority of internal, individual guidelines. The measures that can help tosolve the problems related to finding an optimal correlation between the human right to personal data protection and the right to informationare proposed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 10-19
Author(s):  
Greta Angjeli ◽  
Besmir Premalaj

One of the fundamental human rights protected by various international conventions is the right to the protection of privacy, or as defined in the European Convention on Human Rights, the right to respect private and family life. Affiliated to this right is also the right to data protection, which is described by various authors as a modern derivation of the right to privacy protection. The protection of personal data in the context of privacy protection was jeopardized by the rapid and widespread of information technology, automated data processing and the risk of access to this data by unauthorized persons on the network. The legal regulation for the non-violation of the right to respect private life by the processing of personal data with automated systems was one of the challenges of many states which had to allow the use of artificial intelligence for the benefit of further economic and social development, at the same time they had to ensure the protection of the personal data of their citizens. In this context, the EU has issued another regulation on personal data protection (General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679). The purpose of this paper is to highlight the impact of artificial intelligence on the right to respect private life and the legal protection of personal data from misuse through artificial intelligence.


Author(s):  
Agnese Reine-Vītiņa

Mūsdienās tiesības uz privāto dzīvi nepieciešamas ikvienā demokrātiskā sabiedrībā, un šo tiesību iekļaušana konstitūcijā juridiski garantē fiziskas personas rīcības brīvību un vienlaikus arī citu – valsts pamatlikumā noteikto – cilvēka tiesību īstenošanu [5]. Personas datu aizsardzības institūts tika izveidots, izpratnes par tiesību uz personas privātās dzīves neaizskaramību saturu paplašinot 20. gadsimta 70. gados, kad vairāku Eiropas valstu valdības uzsāka informācijas apstrādes projektus, piemēram, tautas skaitīšanu u. c. Informācijas tehnoloģiju attīstība ļāva arvien vairāk informācijas par personām glabāt un apstrādāt elektroniski. Viena no tiesību problēmām bija informācijas vākšana par fizisku personu un tiesību uz privātās dzīves neaizskaramību ievērošana. Lai nodrošinātu privātās dzīves aizsardzību, atsevišķas Eiropas valstis pēc savas iniciatīvas pieņēma likumus par datu aizsardzību. Pirmie likumi par personas datu aizsardzību Eiropā tika pieņemti Vācijas Federatīvajā Republikā, tad Zviedrijā (1973), Norvēģijā (1978) un citur [8, 10]. Ne visas valstis pieņēma likumus par datu aizsardzību vienlaikus, tāpēc Eiropas Padome nolēma izstrādāt konvenciju, lai unificētu datu aizsardzības noteikumus un principus. Nowadays, the right to privacy is indispensable in every democratic society and inclusion of such rights in the constitution, guarantees legally freedom of action of a natural person and, simultaneously, implementation of other human rights established in the fundamental law of the state. The institute of personal data protection was established by expanding the understanding of the content of the right to privacy in the 70’s of the 19th century, when the government of several European countries initiated information processing projects, such as population census etc. For the development of information technology, more and more information on persons was kept and processed in electronic form. One of the legal problems was gathering of information on natural persons and the right to privacy. In order to ensure the protection of privacy, separate European countries, on their own initiative, established a law on data protection. The first laws on the protection of personal data in Europe were established in the Federal Republic of Germany, then in Sweden (1973), Norway (1978) and elsewhere. Not all countries adopted laws on data protection at the same time, so the Council of Europe decided to elaborate a convention to unify data protection rules and principles.


Author(s):  
Ioannis Iglezakis

Digital libraries provide many advantages compared with traditional libraries, such as wide and round the clock availability of resources, lack of physical boundaries, etc. However, the disclosure of personally identifiable information in the course of processing activities may lead to an invasion of privacy of library users, without their being aware of it. In fact, privacy threats are increased in the digital environment, in which digital libraries operate. The right to privacy in the library is “the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one’s interest examined or scrutinized by others” (ALA, 2005). Users of digital libraries have similar privacy expectations when making use of their services. The issues concerning the privacy of digital libraries’ patrons are thus addressed in comparative perspective, in this chapter. In more particular, the legal regulations with regard to data protection in digital libraries in the EU and the US are presented. The comparative analysis of the two legal orders shows differences and similarities, but also highlights loopholes of protection.


2019 ◽  
pp. 245-259
Author(s):  
Bernard Łukanko

The study is concerned with the issue of mutual relationship between the failure to comply with the laws on personal data protection and regulations relating to the protection of personal interests, including in particular the right to privacy. The article presents the views held by the Supreme Court with respect to the possibility of considering acts infringing upon the provisions of the Personal Data Protection Act of 1997 (after 24 May 2018) and of the General Data Protection Regulation (after 25 May 2018) as violation of personal interests, such as the right to privacy. The author shared the view of the case law stating that, if in specifc circumstances the processing of personal data violates the right to privacy, the party concerned may seek remedy on the grounds of Articles 23 and 24 of the Polish Civil Code. This position isalso relevant after the entry into force of the GDPR which, in a comprehensive and exhaustive manner, directly applicable in all Member States, regulates the issue of liability under civil law for infringements of the provisions of the Regulation, however, according to the position expressed in professional literature, it does not exclude the concurrence of claims and violation of the provisions on the protection of personal interests caused by a specifc event. In case of improper processing of personal data, the remedies available under domestic law on the protection of personal interests may be of particular importance outside the subject matter scope of the GDPR applicability. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-75
Author(s):  
Denitza Toptchiyska

During the pandemic of COVID-19 in April 2020 the Ministry of Health in Bulgaria began the administration of the Virusafe contact tracking application. With the Law on Emergency Measures and Actions, declared by a decision of the National Assembly of 13th March 2020 amendments to the Electronic Communications Act were adopted. The purpose of the legislative amendments was to provide access of the competent authorities to the localization data from the public electronic communication networks of the individuals, who have refused or do not fulfill the obligatory isolation or treatment under art. 61 of the Health Act. This publication aims to analyze the main features of mobile applications for tracking the contacts of infected persons, as well as the adopted legislative changes, comparing them with the standards of personal data protection provided in the EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 and Directive 2002/58/EC on the right to privacy and electronic communications.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1487-1490
Author(s):  
Merisa Çeloaliaj

Actuality, recent, has made us witnesses of rapid technological developments, as part of the globalization process, which inevitably affect to our lives.Technological developments facilitate our day-to-day life starting from the most common aspects and advancing at the speed of light to more complex processes that the human mind would not have been able to solve in the same space of time and with the same resources utilized. Free movement, downloading different apps on our smartphones, shopping online or the registering on social networks are just some of the activities that each of us performs daily, often without being aware of what brings these activities together is actually an action, which is legally called "processing of personal data of the individual".Often with the help of technology, private companies and public authorities collect personal information from clients, services receivers or ordinary citizens and they use it to an unprecedented extent in the pursuit of their activities and goals. The protection of personal data of individuals is in fact a fundamental right, which is sanctioned by a legislation of particular importance in international and domestic law.Even in the Albanian legal order, the right to protection of personal data is sanctioned by a specific legal corpus. In the context of the particular importance of the sensitivity that personal data bears, the European Union has adopted the GDPR, an improved act that reinforces the level of protection of the individual against bureaucracy and rapid technological developments.This modest paper focuses on the impact of this regulation in Albania on public and private legal entities that collect and process personal data.How will the GDPR affect, as an act focusing on respect for private and family life, housing and communications, personal data protection, free thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression and information, freedom to perform business, the right to effective protection and fair trial in terms of cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, decision-making and activity of various entities in the Republic of Albania?The structure of this paper includes in the introductory section a brief history of the relevant legal acts, goes on to explain some specific terms and addresses important aspects of the impact on legal entities of the latest European Union regulation in the field of protection of personal data.


2020 ◽  
pp. 99-110
Author(s):  
Arben Murtezić

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the significance of the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (Convention 108) in the overall system of personal data protection, especially from the perspective of non-EU countries that are members of the Council of Europe. This is attempted primarily through the evaluation of correlation between the Convention 108 and ECHR and GDPR in its segment that regulates relationship between the EU and third countries. The interest for the issue of personal data protection has been increasing among legal and ICT professionals, academics, government officials and even a general public over the years. This has been particularly intensified by adopting General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, the adoption of the GDPR did not diminish importance of the Convention 108. On the contrary, it seems that the 'adequacy' principle regarding the third countries proclaimed by the GDPR, stresses its importance. The paper begins with the brief overview of the Convention 108 principles and the modernization that is brought by Protocol of 2018, which coincides with the entry into force of much-mentioned GDPR. It continues with analysis of the relationship between the GDPR and Convention 108, with focus on elements decisively influencing the assessment of the adequacy of the level of protection. Even though there is no sign of equivalence between the right to privacy and personal data protection these matters inevitably intersect in practice. Therefore, the final section of the text summarizes the cases of the European Court of Human Rights invoking Convention 108, with the aim to demonstrate how it is interpreted by the highest judicial instance in Europe.


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