Data Protection Day 2022: Data protection as a premise for citizen-friendly digital transformation
Bern, 28.01.2022 - On this year's Data Protection Day, the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) is taking part in a public conference organised by the Faculty of Law, Criminal Sciences and Public Administration of the University of Lausanne together with the data protection commissioners of the French-speaking and bilingual cantons. In his presentation on the strategy on digital Switzerland, the Commissioner will show how the data protection authorities are working to ensure that the digital transformation takes place in strict compliance with an individual's fundamental right to a private and self-determined life. Digital projects must not be designed in an environment dominated by official and business secrets.
In its strategy for digitalisation in Switzerland, the Federal Council encourages the authorities at all federal levels and civil society, business, academia and politics to work together to drive forward the digital transformation. Under this strategy, transforming existing structures requires us to rethink traditional forms of living together and doing business. Digital skills, networking and data sharing between all players are required. From the resulting accumulation of knowledge, Switzerland should emerge as a country in which the population also participates digitally in social, political and economic life.
Open data versus My data
The data protection authorities are working towards this vision of active participation by the Swiss population and are striving to ensure that the digital transformation can proceed while respecting the fundamental right to a private and self-determined life. The free access, use and sharing of data by the authorities, the research community and business (Open data) must therefore be consistently focused on and limited to factual data, while individuals should have control over their personal data (My data).
Open risk
For this to succeed, change must not take place in an environment of official and business secrets. Rather, the opportunities and risks involved in digital projects must be fully and realistically identified and legal requirements set above the technically feasible.
On the initiative of the Council of Europe, since 2007 International Data Protection Day has been celebrated every year on 28 January throughout Europe and overseas. Its aim is to raise citizens' awareness of the protection of privacy and the right to self-determination over information. It also seeks to bring about a sustainable change in people's behaviour when dealing with new technologies.
Address for enquiries
The FDPIC is available for interviews with the media. For the purposes of coordination, please register in advance.
Contact: Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC), Tel. +41 58 464 94 10, info@edoeb.admin.ch
Documents
Publisher
Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner
https://www.edoeb.admin.ch/edoeb/en/home.html
