In September 2022, Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified ‘Convention 108+’, which ensures the protection of individuals’ privacy about the automatic processing of personal data. In the meantime BiH has been granted candidate status for membership in the European Union (EU), it is necessary to approach the harmonization of regulations in the field of personal data protection with EU regulations and relevant international conventions.
This was highlighted yesterday at the press conference of the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data (AZLP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized on the occasion of Data Protection Day which is marked on January 28.
Director of AZLP Dragoljub Reljić pointed out that constant technological changes and rapid exchange of information in the world require the reformation of the appropriate legal framework and the introduction of new models of protection in case of attempted abuse or unauthorized use and processing of personal data.
In this context, he underlined the imperative of passing a new law on the protection of personal data, which is, among other things, a condition for negotiations and signing an agreement with EUROYUST, stressing the readiness of AZLP to be fully engaged in this regard in cooperation with competent institutions.
This, as he said, implies the introduction of new institutes and reaching the European level of personal data protection.
Statistical indicators on the work of AZLP in the past year were presented by assistant director Samira Čampara, stating that these data are mostly at the level of previous years with a slight increase when it comes to complaints and acting on official duty.
Thus, in 2022, AZLP received 206 complaints from holders of personal data and carried out 96 procedures ex officio, as well as 75 inspections. Based on the requests of various subjects, 394 acts were issued in the context of giving certain opinions.
According to the data presented, AZLP issued 14 misdemeanor orders in the same period, which were mostly executed in connection with which about 26,000 KM was paid to the account of the treasury of BiH. At the same time, 20 proceedings were initiated against the decision of the AZLP BiH before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Appellate Panel of this court, which has since been resolved, and 95 percent were resolved in favor of the Agency.
Among other things, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed the decision of the AZLP that the publication of personal data of voters for voting outside BiH is illegal and that their data was violated in this way.
To raise public awareness of the right to protection of personal data and privacy, the Council of Europe, with the support of the European Commission, declared January 28 as the European Data Protection Day in 2006, also known as Privacy Day in the world.
This day also marks the anniversary of Convention 108 for the protection of individuals about the automatic processing of personal data, which was opened for signature by all countries on January 28, 1981.
The protocol is also known as Convention 108+ and was opened for signature on October 10, 2018.
