Report: Privacy probes slightly decrease

The Office for Personal Data Protection (GPDP) released yesterday its annual report on work regarding its activities last year.
Vasco Fong, co-coordinator of GPDP, has shared that 155 privacy probes were dealt with by the department.
According to Fong, the number has dropped by 39 compared to 2014, but 14 more than in 2013. “It reflects that people still care about their privacy,” says Fong.
However, 69 cases have been dismissed by the GPDP due to inconclusive evidence.
The department has also made 63 suggestions to the parties subject to complaints for improvements in the use of personal data of others, and it found that 28 complaints had been wrongly addressed to GPDP considering their content. Only 18 cases, which represent 8 percent of the total, were eventually closed after payment of fines.

Vasco Fong (left)

Moreover, the report shows that 66.7 percent of the investigations were of private entities, followed by individuals (27 percent) and public entities (6.4 percent). The report discloses that incidents with private entities took place mostly within the gaming industry, a total of 27 cases compared to the 16 in the retail industry. Financial and commercial industries as well as personal services are also more likely to breach the protection of personal data. “Banks, travel agencies, insurance companies and casinos can easily obtain data from customers,” Fong explained.
Approximately 1,834 inquiries related to personal data protection issues have been received by the GPDP, representing a slight decrease compared to 2014 and 2013, when 1,936 and 2,276 were recorded respectively.
According to Fong, both groups and individuals that experienced violations of privacy did so mostly due to data security measures undertaken by themselves or because they were not qualified to access or use certain kinds of information.
Fong added that the amendment to the personal data protection law will not start this year because of “complex procedures.” He said that the amendment of the personal data protection law will need to be discussed in detail due to the different issues and fields.
Regarding the establishment of GPDP as an independent department, Fong said that “plans and documents are ready, now we are waiting for a schedule.”
GPDP is organizing a privacy protection activity, from May 9 to 15, as a reaction to the privacy protection event organized by Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA). The promotional event includes a privacy promotion day and word puzzles with prizes, among other activities. Staff reporter