Abstract
This chapter outlines the experiences of attempting to exercise one’s right of access in Slovakia. Using rich, ethnographic examples, this chapter tests how easy or difficult it is for a data subject based in Slovakia to obtain their personal data, firstly by locating the required information about organisations and their data controllers and secondly by submitting subject access requests to these organisations. The chapter reflects on the differences (if any) between public and private sector organisations in the process of responding to access requests as well as the role of the national Data Protection Authority in Slovakia.
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Notes
- 1.
The topic of surveillance repeatedly resurfaces in political and public debates, and is usually connected to workings of country’s intelligence services and political (lack) of overview. As a result, since 1994 there is an ongoing series of cases that are result of mismanagement of information, leaks and (ill) legal wiretaps, mostly used as means for political advantage. The “surveillance” is therefore considered as the “means” for other actions and behavior, and is only rarely a subject of political and media debate itself. For more see report on Slovakia for IRISS WP4 on general history of surveillance in Slovakia.
- 2.
The 1992 Constitution of Slovak Republic, available in English at: http://www.nrsr.sk/web/Static/en-US/NRSR/Dokumenty/constitution.doc (last accessed 13July 2013).
- 3.
The law was valid till 30/6/2013. For full English version of the consolidated version of the law see: http://www.dataprotection.gov.sk/buxus/docs/act_428_2002_01_09.pdf, accessed 27/06/2013.
- 4.
The law was directly amended by Act No. 602/2003 Coll., Act No. 576/2004 Coll., Act No. 90/2005 Coll. and Act No. 583/2008 Coll.
- 5.
According to the explanatory report for the 2005 amendment to the Protection of Personal Data Law, the main aim of the “euroamendment” was to fully harmonize the law with the Directive. The amendment introduced/changed several legal terms, clarified the obligations of data controllers, introduced changes in registration procedure of information systems and strengthened the powers of the DPA.
- 6.
Section 28 of the new law. The new law allows for data request to be submitted in person and also allows to submitt request in person to the data processor.
- 7.
Section 20(3) of the law.
- 8.
Section 7(4) of the law that stipulates personal data that may be processed without consent.
- 9.
I.e. (b) the information about the source from which the controller obtained his personal data for their processing; (c) a copy of his personal data which constitute the subject of the processing.
- 10.
Ibid.
- 11.
IV. ÚS 44/00, The Constitutional Court of Slovakia. The English summary of the ruling can be found: http://portal.concourt.sk/Zbierka/2001a/10_01a.pdf.
- 12.
IV. ÚS 40/03, The Constitutional Court of Slovakia, The English summary of the ruling can be found: http://portal.concourt.sk/Zbierka/2003a/190_03a.pdf (last accessed 25 June 2013).
- 13.
PL. ÚS 1/09, The Constitutional Court of Slovakia, The English summary of the ruling can be found: http://portal.concourt.sk/Zbierka/2011a/1_11a.pdf (last accessed 25 June 2013).
- 14.
I.e. Provisions of Section 5 Paragraph 4, Section 6 Paragraphs 1–4, Section 10 Paragraphs 1, 2 and 8, Section 20 Paragraph 1, Section 27 and Section 32.
- 15.
E.g.: the law No. 46/1993 Coll. Z. z. on Slovak Information Service; No. 319/2002 Coll. on defense of Slovak Republic; No. 564/1991 Coll. on Local Police; No. 171/1993 Coll. on Police Force.
- 16.
The signage that the premises are being monitored is not required if it is not stipulated by a special law. E.g. law No. 483/2001 on Banks, Section 93s(7) “The premises of a bank, branch of a foreign bank and the National Bank of Slovakia, and ATM machines and currency exchange machines not located in the premises of a bank or branch of a foreign bank, may be monitored by video or audio recordings even where there is no notice that the area is under surveillance”. For English version of the law see: http://www.nbs.sk/_img/Documents/_Legislativa/_BasicActs/A483_2001.pdf (last accessed 29 June 2013).
- 17.
This exception remains unchanged in the new law of 2013, where it is defined in §15 (7).
- 18.
Unless otherwise stipulated by a special law, e.g. the Law No. 483/2001 on Banks, Paragraph 93a (7) allows for 12 months period. For English version of the law see: http://www.nbs.sk/_img/Documents/_Legislativa/_BasicActs/A483_2001.pdf (last accessed 29 June 2013).
- 19.
Paragraph 13(7) of the law.
- 20.
Paragraph 7 (4) of the law.
- 21.
The main activity of the Institute is to systematically research and disclose documents from 1939 to 1989, instead of bringing criminal evidence for prosecution against former members of security forces.
- 22.
Law No. 553/2002 Coll. on declassification of documents concerning activities of security bodies of the state in the period 1939–1989 and on establishment of the Nation’s Memory Institute allows National Memory Institute, available in English at: http://www.upn.gov.sk/data/pdf/553_2002_en.pdf (last accessed 5 July 2013).
- 23.
The Supreme Court of Slovakia, case No. 5 Cdo 83/2008, available in Slovak at: http://www.nssr.gov.sk/data/att/7858_subor.pdf, accessed (last accessed 11 July 2013).
- 24.
In this category secret police registered people that were of the interest, but who were not knowingly collaborating with the secret service as other categories (informants, agents).
- 25.
On a proposal by the President of Statistical Office.
- 26.
This amendment introduced and changed several definitions, e.g. the meanings of third country, third party and public interest. It also clarified the obligations of data controllers, introduced changes in registration procedure of information systems and strengthened the audit powers of the DPA. Finally, the amendment added a new §23a on the cross-border flow of personal data in the EU.
References
Legislation and Case Law
Constitutional Court of Slovakia, Case IV ÚS 40/03, available at: http://portal.concourt.sk/Zbierka/2003a/190_03a.pdf, (accessed 25 June 2013).
Constitutional Court of Slovakia, Case IV ÚS 44/00, available at: http://portal.concourt.sk/Zbierka/2001a/10_01a.pdf, (accessed 13 July 2013).
Constitutional Court of Slovakia, Case PL. ÚS 1/09, available at: http://portal.concourt.sk/Zbierka/2011a/1_11a.pdf, (accessed 25 June 2013).
Law No. 122/2013 Coll. on Protection of Personal Data, in English, available at: http://www.dataprotection.gov.sk/buxus/docs/Act_12213-en_1.pdf?buxus=b2d2c8fe581c72242fad72dd73c45843, (accessed 8 January 2014)
Law No. 428/2002 Coll. on personal data protection as amended by the Act No. 602/2003 Coll., Act no 576/2004 Coll., Act No. 90/2005 Coll. and the Act No. 583/2008 Coll.
Law No. 483/2001 on Banks, in English, available at: http://www.nbs.sk/_img/Documents/_Legislativa/_BasicActs/A483_2001.pdf, (accessed 29 June 2013)
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Acknowledgment
Additional co-financing for this work was provided by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. DO7RP–0027–11, IRISS.
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Láštic, E. (2017). Exercising Access Rights in Slovakia. In: Norris, C., de Hert, P., L'Hoiry, X., Galetta, A. (eds) The Unaccountable State of Surveillance. Law, Governance and Technology Series(), vol 34. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47573-8_11
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