COMMISSIONER
FOR INFORMATION OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
AND PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION

logo novi


COMMISSIONER
FOR INFORMATION OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
AND PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION



logo novi

COMMISSIONER
FOR INFORMATION OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE AND PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION

03.12.2008.The Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection has issued a warning to the Ministry of Interior on occasion of its failure to take technical, personnel and organizational security measures for the protection of personal data from the video surveillance system in PD Novi Sad.

The warning contains a 14-item list of deficiencies, and the MoI is to inform the Commissioner on the measures and actions taken to remedy the deficiencies in personal data processing within 15 days as of the date of the receipt of the warning.

The Commissioner, Rodoljub Sabic, has evaluated that this particular case is yet an additional proof of the chronic, multi-annual inadequate attitude to personal data protection and stated the following:

"The direct reason why I ordered the control over the implementation of the Law on Personal Data Protection in the PD Novi Sad is the recent publication of the video of a serious car accident, together with personal names of the actors, all without legal grounds. However, more general and fundamental reason is the fact that the video surveillance system is operating in a manner that fails to provide minimum guarantees against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure and any other misuse.

To illustrate, it is enough to mention only some of a number of deficiencies indicated in the warning:

- Although the PD uses the video surveillance system of the PE ''Informatika'' with nearly a thousand HD network cameras, there are no prescribed and clear procedures governing their use,

- Individual users do not require authorization to access the system and their activities are neither monitored nor recorded,

- Access to the premises where the designated computer for accessing the system is located is not restricted so that only certain authorized persons can enter,

- Downloaded videos can be transferred to portable storage devices, USB flash drives or optical discs without a trace,

- Videos in the system can be downloaded in editable format even though the system provides opportunity to download them in a format which cannot be modified etc.

I have already had a conversation with Nebojsa Stefanovic, Minister of Interior, on occasion of the warning. We have agreed that the deficiencies ate to be remedied without delay. The Minister has assured me that this will be performed as soon as possible."