On July 28 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the bill “On personal data” into law. According to analysts at InfoWatch, maintaining the confidentiality of personal information outlined in the new law will require some investments from businesses.
The law was approved by the State Duma, Russia’s parliament, on July 8 and endorsed by the upper house, the Federation Council, on July 14. Two weeks later President Putin signed the federal law “On personal data”. The law stipulates the inviolability of an individual’s right to privacy during procedures for the collection or processing of private data, as well as providing a legal guarantee of an individual’s constitutional rights regarding their personal data.
Personal data implies any information relating to a private individual, for example, name, date and place of birth, address, marital status, income etc. With the written permission of an individual the name, address, telephone number and profession can be added to freely accessible sources of personal data such as telephone directories and address books. Those details can also be removed from those sources at the request of the individual in question.
In line with the law, those with the right to obtain personal data are only entitled to ask for those data that are necessary for clearly stated goals with the subject’s consent. At the same time, the law requires those operating personal databases to provide effective safeguards to protect the confidentiality of the information in their possession.
Certain categories of data, including racial origin or nationality, political or religious beliefs, sexual orientation or criminal records, cannot be used. However, a number of state agencies, in particular, law enforcement bodies, can legally obtain personal data about individuals who have committed crimes or administrative violations. The use of an individual’s personal data for advertising or political aims is also deemed illegal without the subject’s permission.
“Without going into the political issues of the new law and its effects on the freedom of speech, it has to be said that Russia finally has the legal foundations to establish some control over the use of the population’s personal details. Compliance with the law in terms of maintaining the confidentiality of personal information will require some further investments, but the game is definitely worth the candle,” believes Denis Zenkin, marketing director at InfoWatch.
Source: CNews.ru
