January 28th is Data Protection Day, which we are celebrating for the 19th time this year. This day provides an opportunity to reflect on achievements and once again emphasize the importance of personal data protection in today’s world. With the ever-growing flow of information and data exchange, both individuals and organizations must exercise heightened caution and vigilance.
We, the Data State Inspectorate of Latvia, work daily to foster public understanding of personal data security and ensure appropriate data processing. We achieve this through consultations, handling complaints, and educating the public via informative events and publications.
Last year, we provided extensive support to citizens and organizations, answering more than 2,000 phone inquiries and delivering nearly 600 written responses. We also received and reviewed almost 900 complaints, most commonly related to data processing on social networks, video surveillance, personal data in employment, data use in healthcare, and other areas. For several years, we have been publishing weekly articles in the “#DVIskaidro” section, where we provide detailed explanations on current issues based on public inquiries and topical matters. Last year, 54 new explanations were created in this section, which anyone interested can find at https://www.dvi.gov.lv/lv/dviskaidro. We encourage everyone to continue submitting questions and suggestions for topics that require further clarification.
Public education is one of our priorities. In 2024, we organized and participated in 26 different seminars and conferences. A highlight was last year’s largest event, the 32nd "Spring Conference," which brought together data protection experts from 45 countries in Riga. The open day of the conference was attended by over 150 participants, demonstrating the growing public interest in data protection. Additionally, we hosted the traditional meeting of Baltic supervisory authorities, where we discussed shared challenges and exchanged experiences in the field of data protection.
Special attention was devoted to educating young people. As part of this effort, we implemented the campaign "Data is Valuable – Protect It!" A social experiment, which was a part of the campaign, vividly demonstrated the importance of personal data protection and encouraged young people to realize that no reward is worth compromising their data. More about this campaign can be found at https://www.dvi.gov.lv/lv/kampana-dati-ir-vertiba-sarga-tos-jauniesiem.
Our outreach also relied heavily on media engagement. Last year, we provided 58 responses, both oral and written, to clarify data protection issues. Furthermore, we organized qualification exams for data protection specialists, with more than half of the candidates successfully passing.
We express our gratitude to all partners, organizations, and individuals who actively participated in creating a secure, responsible, and lawful environment for personal data processing. Happy Data Protection Day to everyone, and may your data always remain safe!