Press Releases - Archive

The Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection said announcements of responsible officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs about compliance with the Commissioners ruling, ordering this Ministry to stop inadmissible processing of personal data of police officers and citizens which it performs without valid legal basis through audio and video recording systems (AVI surveillance) installed in patrol cars of the traffic police, were positive and expected.

Emphasizing that respect of the law does not exclude, but on the contrary presupposesthe need for responsible, rational management of the budget funds and the need to objectively inform the public about relevant circumstances, Commissioner RodoljubSabic also said the following:

In his letters sent to the heads of the Journalists' Association of Serbia(UNS), the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) and theIndependent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina(NDNV), Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection RodoljubSabiccongratulated3 May, the World Press Freedom Day, to all journalists in Serbia.

Expressing his best wishes for continued success in the work of journalists and the media and reaffirming his readiness and duty to help them carry out their important social function, Commissioner RodoljubSabic also said the following:

The Commissioner for Information of Public Importance said it was commendable that the Ministry of Natural Resources, Mining and Spatial Planning (even if it was on the last day of its existence), acting on his order, made available to the public all data in connection with the "Feasibility Study for Morava Canal". However, the Commissioner believes it would be better if in such and similar situations the rights of the public were exercised on the proactive basis, without the need for the Commissioner to intervene, issues orders and imposes fines.

Noting that some actions and statements of responsible persons could cause dilemmas about the factual situation and the meaning and scope of the constitutional and legal provisions which guarantee freedom of information and regulate the possibilities to limit that right, Commissioner RodoljubSabic particularly emphasized the following:

The Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stop inadmissible processing of personal data of police officers and the citizens which they control through video camerainstalled in patrol cars, as well as through audio recording devices installed in the equipment and uniform of traffic police officers.

In connection withthe news published in certain media from "a source inside the Ministry of Internal Affairs", as well as comments of certain traffic experts who obviously do not have sufficient relevant facts at disposal, that such Commissioner's decision allegedly "puts traffic safety at risk", the Commissioner emphasized that inadmissible data processing has no effect on traffic safety.

In that regard, Commissioner RodoljubSabic said the following: