Radio România Internațional

Tag: data protection

  • The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation takes effect

    The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation takes effect

    Drafted by the European Commission two years ago, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took effect on May 25, creating a legislative framework that should be applied in a unitary manner. The need for such regulation emerged in the context of the existence of 28 national legislations in the field, and of the fact that the former data protection law was outdated, namely older than 20 years. All the companies operating within the EU will have to abide by the same set of norms from now on, no matter where their headquarters are located.


    Given that these norms are stricter, people will enjoy more control over their own personal data. Also, companies will benefit from equal conditions in terms of competition. The new Regulation focuses on transparency and on rendering data operators responsible for the way in which they process personal data. It sets a number of special guarantees meant to more efficiently protect the private life of minors, especially in the online environment, consolidates the guaranteed rights of targeted persons, and introduces new rights for individuals.



    The head of the legal and communication department with the National Supervisory Authority for Personal Data Processing, Alina Săvoiu, explains: “The regulation is meant to protect individuals, their rights and private lives, and at the same time, it lays greater emphasis on the obligations of both public and private data operators. They are responsible for the security and confidentiality of the data which they hold, and have to ensure the rights of people starting from the right to information, the right to opposition, the right to intervention and other new rights such as the right to data portability or the right to erasure or to be forgotten on the Internet.”



    Another provision in the regulation refers to designating somebody responsible for the data protection at the level of the data operator. In terms of sanctions, the companies that will infringe the new General Data Protection Regulation will pay fines of 2% of their annual global turnover for violations of data protection rules, but no less than 10 million Euros, or of 4% of the annual global turnover for violations of the basic principles regarding data processing, but no less than 20 million Euros.(Edited by D. Vijeu)

  • New General Regulations for Data Protection

    New General Regulations for Data Protection

    New General Regulations for Private Data Protection will take effect in all EU member states in less than a month, on May 25. The new norms, among the strictest in the world, are aimed at protecting the rights of natural persons to a larger extent, such as the right to be informed, to request portability or the removal of data. “The new regulations provide for an extension of the rights of the companies’ clients. For instance, in the case of the right to be informed, a larger number of pieces of information should be sent to the companies’ clients, in case of direct information as well as regarding the data obtained from private people and indirect information.



    Apart from information such as the purpose, beneficiaries and rights, further information on the period during which the data is stocked, the legal basis for data processing and the right to forward complaints to the authority is also requested” Alina Săvoiu, the representative of the National Authority for the Surveillance of Private Data Processing has explained.



    In keeping with the new regulations, some companies will have to designate a person responsible for data protection. It will be compulsory to create such a position in any company functioning in the public sector, with the exception of courts. As regards the private sector, this is necessary only if certain types of data processing activities are carried out, those involving risks, or the processing of sensitive data on a large scale, in case of high volumes of data or of large geographical area.



    Lawyer Laurenţiu Petre has more: “In the case of public authorities or bodies, it is compulsory (to have such a position). Also, this is valid for those who operate periodical and systemic monitoring of persons on a large scale; the operator as well should nominate a data protection officer. This goes also for those processing special category data, for instance medical data and data regarding children. Not all operators should designate this data protection officer, but each case should be analysed, whether or not it makes the object of the new provisions.“




    The regulations also provide for tougher sanctions for those violating data protection norms. Fees will reach up to 20 million Euros or 4% of a company’s turnover. Social networks and several communication apps have already started to harmonise their confidentiality policy with the new European norms.


  • January 28, 2018 UPDATE

    January 28, 2018 UPDATE

    GOVERNMENT – The ministers nominated to be part of the new Cabinet in Bucharest Sunday took part in a meeting with the MPs of the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, and the PM designate Viorica Dăncilă presented some of the measures included in the governing programme, including the pension law and the education law. The new government also intends to scrap several taxes. The meeting took place ahead of Mondays vote in Parliament on the validation of the new government. Before the vote, the ministers will also be heard by the specialised parliamentary committees. This is the 3rd cabinet backed by the ruling coalition in the past year. The new team, headed by the MEP Viorica Dăncilă, will include 27 ministers and 4 deputy PM, one more than the outgoing Mihai Tudose cabinet. Also on Sunday, the leaders of the National Liberal Party in opposition convened to define the partys strategy for the new parliamentary session and with respect to the validation of the Dăncilă government. The Liberals have announced they would vote against candidates proposed by the Social Democrats and ALDE. Also in opposition, Save Romania Union announced they would give no votes in favour of the Dancila Cabinet. The head of Save Romania Union, Dan Barna, said on Sunday that the governing team proposed by the ruling coalition was the weakest in the past few years.




    EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER – The European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Creţu, will be on an official visit to Romania on Monday and Tuesday. She is scheduled to have a meeting with the PM designate Viorica Dăncilă, to discuss European funding. Corina Creţu will take part in a conference, jointly with the Governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isărescu, and will receive a diploma from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. The European official will also be the host of the award ceremony of 2017 European Reporter and Blogger competition.




    DATA PROTECTION – The European Data Protection Day was celebrated on January 28. In May this year a new European regulation will take effect in this field, replacing national laws and introducing elements designed to consolidate the rights of individuals. The regulation lays emphasis on the obligations of data operators. Companies will be bound to nominate officers in charge of data protection, otherwise they risk fines of up to 10 million euros in the private sector. In the public sector, penalties will be set by national regulations. For misdeeds like data security breaches, fines may reach 20 million euros for the private sector. The new rule was adopted by the European Parliament and Council in April 2016.




    TERRORISM – The Romanian Foreign Ministry has strongly criticised the terrorist attack that killed more than 100 people and wounded another 200 in Afganistans capital city Kabul on Saturday. Bucharest expressed solidarity with the Afghan people and authorities, and reiterated Romanias firm commitment to the fight against international terrorism. The attack, claimed by the Taliban, is one of the most violent Kabul has seen in recent years. Afghanistan declared a day of national mourning on Sunday for the victims of the attack.




    RUSSIA – The leader of the Russian opposition, Alexei Navalny, was arrested on Sunday after he joined the protests in Moscow against Russias presidential election due on March 18, which Vladimir Putin is the most likely to win. Russian police forces Sunday raided the campaign headquarters of Putins main critic, Aleksei Navalny, and questioned and arrested members of his team, according to sources close to Navalny. Russian election authorities ruled that Navalny cannot run in the March ballot because of a previous suspended sentence for embezzlement. A long-time and well-known opponent of President Vladimir Putin, Navalny denied any irregularities and said the accusations against him were political. He was also arrested several times for illegal organisation of protests.




    HANDBALL – Romanias mens handball team will take on Macedonia in the playoffs for the 2018 World Championship, as decided in a drawing in Zagreb. The final tournament will be hosted by Germany and Denmark between January 10 and 27. The mens team last took part in a World Championship final tournament in 2011. In other news, 3 Romanian womens handball teams won matches in European competitions over the weekend. HC Zalău managed its 3rd running victory in the EHF Cup, at home on Saturday, 31-28, against the Czech team DHK Banik Most, in the competitions Group D. In Group A, SCM Craiova defeated the Russian side Kuban Krasnodar, 30-24, also on Saturday. On Friday, the champions CSM Bucharest outplayed 28-22 at home, the Hungarian team Gyor Audi ETO KC, in the first match in the Champions League main groups. CSM tops the standings with 8 points, followed by Gyor, 6 points. In 2016 CSM won the trophy, while Gyor are the defending European champions.




    TENNIS – The Romanians Sorana Cîrstea and Irina Begu will take part in the WTA tournament in Sankt Petersburg, with 733,900 US dollars in total prize money. Simona Halep, who lost the Australian Open final on Saturday, has withdrawn from the competition. The Melbourne winner, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, the new World No. 1, will be the top seed in Sankt Petersburg. Sorana Cîrstea will play in the first round against Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia), and Irina Begu will face a player coming from the qualification round.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • January 28, 2018

    January 28, 2018

    GOVERNMENT – Romanian MPs in power and in opposition are holding meetings today with their respective party leaders, ahead of Mondays vote in Parliament on the appointment of a new Cabinet headed by Viorica Dăncilă and on the updated governing programme. Prior to the vote, the new ministers designate will be heard in parliamentary committees. This is the 3rd Cabinet nominated by the left-wing ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania over the past year. The new team, headed by the MEP Viorica Dăncilă, will include 27 ministers and 4 deputy PMs, one more than the team of the outgoing PM Mihai Tudose. The Liberals argue that the proposed Cabinet includes ministers with modest performances in the previous terms. Also in opposition, Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party claim there is not enough time for properly hearing the ministers and for thorough debates in the specialised parliamentary committees.




    EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER – The European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Creţu, will be on an official visit to Romania on Monday and Tuesday. She is scheduled to have a meeting with the PM designate Viorica Dăncilă, to discuss European funding. Corina Creţu will take part in a conference, jointly with the Governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isărescu, and will receive a diploma from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. The European official will also be the host of the award ceremony of 2017 European Reporter and Blogger competition.




    DATA PROTECTION – The European Data Protection Day is celebrated on January 28. In May this year a new European regulation will take effect in this field, replacing national laws and introducing elements designed to consolidate the rights of individuals. The regulation lays emphasis on the obligations of data operators. Companies will be bound to nominate an officer in charge of data protection, otherwise they risk fines of up to 10 million euros in the private sector. In the public sector, penalties will be set by national regulations. For misdeeds like data security breaches, fines may reach 20 million euros for the private sector. The new rule was adopted by the European Parliament and Council in April 2016.




    TERRORISM – The Romanian Foreign Ministry has strongly criticised the terrorist attack that killed more than 100 people and wounded another 200 in Afganistans capital city Kabul on Saturday. Bucharest expressed solidarity with the Afghan people and authorities, and reiterated Romanias firm commitment to the fight against international terrorism. The attack, claimed by the Taliban, is one of the most violent Kabul has seen in recent years.




    HANDBALL – Romanias mens handball team will take on Macedonia in the playoffs for the 2018 World Championship, as decided in a drawing in Zagreb. The final tournament will be hosted by Germany and Denmark between January 10 and 27. The mens team last took part in a World Championship final tournament in 2011. In other news, 3 Romanian womens handball teams won matches in European competitions over the weekend. HC Zalău managed its 3rd running victory in the EHF Cup, at home on Saturday, 31-28, against the Czech team DHK Banik Most, in the competitions Group D. In Group A, SCM Craiova defeated the Russian side Kuban Krasnodar, 30-24, also on Saturday. On Friday, the champions CSM Bucharest outplayed 28-22 at home, the Hungarian team Gyor Audi ETO KC, in the first match in the Champions League main groups. CSM tops the standings with 8 points, followed by Gyor, 6 points. In 2016 CSM won the trophy, while Gyor are the defending European champions.




    TENNIS – The Romanians Sorana Cîrstea and Irina Begu will take part in the WTA tournament in Sankt Petersburg, with 733,900 US dollars in total prize money. Simona Halep, who lost the Australian Open final on Saturday, has withdrawn from the competition. The Melbourne winner, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, the new World No. 1, will be the top seed in Sankt Petersburg. Sorana Cîrstea will play in the first round against Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia), and Irina Begu will face a player coming from the qualification round.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)