Social networks and chats may violate personal data
Last week, the Personal Data Protection Ombudsman presented the Annual Report 2022 which lists 442 collegial measures, answers to 9218 complaints, 81 recommendations, and 317 fines and corrective measures for a total of 9.5 million fines.
One hundred and forty inspections were carried out, nearly triple the number of the previous year (that still suffered the impact of the pandemic emergency), especially in telemarketing, public cloud, websites and the use of cookies and video surveillance, also at the workplace.
2022 brough a series of measures addressing major issues related to fundamental human rights in the digital world. A special focus was placed on the use of biometric data and the use of facial recognition systems. In terms of safeguarding minors, monitoring has continued on the registration of minors on social networks, also through age checking systems.
With regard to ChatGPT, the Ombudsman has allowed this form of generative artificial intelligence to develop in a direction compatible with people’s rights and especially those of minors.
In order to contrast the revenge porn phenomenon, the Ombudsman has introduced an on-line reporting model and the possibility of transmitting hash codes to platforms rather than the images themselves. Nearly 150 reports were received and addressed rapidly. In most cases, the result was a direct measure for the platforms to block the diffusion of photos and videos.
In terms of cybersecurity, the Ombudsman has begun a collaboration with the National Security Agency for and signed a memorandum of understanding.
In June, to mark the fifth year of full application of the GDPR, the Ombudsman also published a new edition of the Guide to the Application of the European Regulation for the Protection of Personal Data.
