Press Releases

In the Ceremonial Council Hall, in Subotica, on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, starting at 10:30, a panel discussion was held on the topic of monitoring the implementation of the new Law on Personal Data Protection, which was attended by Data Controllers, all interested representatives of civil society organizations and the media. Commissioner Milan Marinović and Deputy Commissioner Sanja Unković, as well as representatives of the Commissioner's Office, participated in today's panel discussion. The panel discussion aimed to consider the new Law on Personal Data Protection and look at the possibilities for its better application. During the panel discussion, the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, Milan Marinović, presented its annual reports on the work for the previous two years. Deputy Commissioner Sanja Unković presented the current position of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, the competence of the Commissioner with special emphasis on personal data protection. Representatives of the Commissioner's Office from the Sector for Supervision of Personal Data Protection and the Sector for Harmonization of Regulations and Normative Affairs also participated in the panel discussion. In the upcoming period, panel discussions, which are being implemented in 15 selected local self-government units, within the scope of project support are particularly important for raising the awareness of the general public and informing citizens.

The organization of the panel discussion is supported by the project "Support for Strengthening Rule of Law in the Republic of Serbia"(EU for the Fight Against Corruption and for Fundamental Rights) financed by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), whereas the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) is in charge for its implementation.

Kragujevac, March 2, 2023.

On Thursday, March 2, starting at 10 a.m. in the Great Hall of the Assembly of the City of Kragujevac, training was held for Data Protection Officers responsible for the implementation of the Personal Data Protection Law. Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection Milan Marinović, Deputy Commissioner Sanja Unković, and also from the Sector for Education and Certification, Aleksandra Lakićević and Marko Milošević, attended the training aimed at designated Data Protection Officers from more than 40 public institutions with the area of the city of Kragujevac.

The representatives of the Commissioner’s Office conducted this training within the scope of the multi-donor project "Support for Strengthening Rule of Law in the Republic of Serbia"(EU for the Fight Against Corruption and for Fundamental Rights) financed by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), whereas the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) is in charge for its implementation.

The importance of protecting personal data, consent for their processing, the purpose of lawful and fairly processing and transfer, as well as determining the public and legitimate interest in processing, are just some of the topics in the main focus of public interest. The aim of the training is to familiarize Data Protection Officers or persons designated by Data Controllers and Data Processors (if they do not have designated Data Protection Officers) with the current legal solutions (in the EU and the Republic of Serbia) and the proper application of the Personal Data Protection Law.

Field trainings, which are being implemented as part of project support in 15 selected local self-government units, are particularly important for raising the capacity of personal data protection. Also, in those selected units of local self-government, in addition to training, parallelly there is the ongoing organization of panel discussions on the topic of personal data protection, which primarily aims to raise awareness among the general public and inform its citizens.

Today, on February 24, 2023, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia is holding the Second Extraordinary Session in the Thirteenth Legislature, where, among other things, the Report on the work of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection for 2021 with the Proposal of the conclusions of the Committee on the Judiciary, Public Administration and Local Self-Government from December 26, 2022, is being considered.

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"Unlike digitization, with its very high level of use of modern technologies and especially powerful software that supports it, and which is, as it seems, under sufficient control and influence of the human factor, the artificial intelligence, if not properly controlled, could get out of control, which could cause very serious consequences. In any case, the introduction of new technologies in personal data processing, digitization, and the use of artificial intelligence must not be at the expense of the realization of human rights and equality among people," said Commissioner Milan Marinović today in the introductory presentation on the occasion of Data Protection Day, held at the Serbian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

At the celebration, it was pointed out that this is why one of the primary goals of the Commissioner's institution is the education of citizens and those who process our data. That the institution, in addition to numerous trainings, panels, round tables, and student internships, wanted to show even to the youngest what personal data is, how it can be misused, and who they can turn to for help. He added that elementary school pupils are the most vulnerable ones because they spend the most time on social networks and other popular digital platforms. That's why the Brochure called "Personal data is our treasure, how can we protect it?" was prepared, within the scope and help of the "New Literacy" program, which the United States Agency for International Development is jointly implementing with the Propulsion organization, and in cooperation with its author, journalist and psychologist, Dragan Ilić.

"Our research shows that almost 40% of children between the age of 12 and 18 do not know how to protect their data online. The question is, do they fully understand the risks and consequences of sharing their personal data online? Therefore, it is crucial that children from a young age start learning about data protection. By educating them in this domain, we ensure that they move safely and responsibly in the digital world. I invite parents, teachers, and everyone who works with the youngest to support them in reading and understanding the brochure and help them apply that knowledge in their everyday life." said Darko Soković, managing partner in the organization Propulsion.

During the celebration of Data Protection Day, Deputy Commissioner Sanja Unković presented the latest publication called "Personal Data Protection: Positions, Opinions, and Practice of the Commissioner". 

The Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, H.E.Emanuele Giofre,  Head of the OSCE Mission in Serbia, H.E. Jan Braathu, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, Nadia Ćuk, and Director of the USAID Mission to Serbia, Brooke Aysham participated in today's celebration of Data Protection Day. In their introductory presentations, they pointed out the practice in the European Union countries, the support they provide to the Republic of Serbia, and the institution of the Commissioner in this area.

In the end, the Commissioner also referred to its competence from the right to access information of public importance and reminded the authorities that the obligation to submit annual reports to the Commissioner via the Portal for submitting annual reports of Public Authorities, at the web address: https://izvestaji.poverenik.rs, expires tomorrow, January 31, 2023.

The recording of the event can be viewed on the Commissioner's official YouTube channel.