DATA PROTECTION COMMISSIONER WARNS AGAINST PRO-ACTIVE CONTROL
Odilo von Guntern, the Swiss federal Data Protection Commissioner has once again strongly engaged in the current debate on "internal security" policies in this country. The ever wider use of pro-active control is posing a threat to the freedom of information and the right to privacy of many non-suspect people, the Commissioner claims.
"Pro-active" eaves-dropping
While presenting his second annual report at a press conference, the Commissioner said he strongly disagreed with the decision of the second chamber of the Federal Parliament to allow the use of sophisticated eavesdropping equipment for the pro-active surveillance of "suspect organisations" (see FECL No.35: "Supporters of increased policing on the advance"). Mr von Guntern called on the parliament to withdraw the controversial provisions.
Digital systems threaten privacy
The Data protection Commissioner also expressed criticism of Swiss public Post and Telecommunications, PTT, for not having informed his office in time - or at all - on projects in sensitive fields of electronic data processing. The complexity of modern telecommunications increase the risk of encroachments on individual liberties and privacy, Mr von Guntern said, and particularly mentioned the new digital telephone network as an example. The digital system enables the identification of the calling person without his knowledge. The Commissioner expressed similar reservations against other projects of the PTT, such as the "Swiss Telecom Card", and against low data protection levels in the PTT's money transfer and mailing activities.
Call for harmonised international data protection
Von Guntern expressed legal reservations about the Internet and advocated the creation of a central international mechanism of control that would watch over violations of data protection regulations. Data protection should not oppose developments in communication, Mr von Guntern stresses, but in view of the chaos that now reigns, there is a need for international harmonised data protection regulations. In the view of the Commissioner, the Council of Europe is best suited to deal with the matter.
"Risk prevention" versus civil liberties
Speaking more generally, Mr von Guntern warned against the current trend towards justifying ever more comprehensive data registers on the grounds of general "risk prevention". The Commissioner drew an alarming picture of a future marked by the electronic surveillance of citizens reduced to transparent chip-card bearers. He called on the public to become more aware of this danger, instead of handing out ever more personal data - often of their own free will. Mr von Guntern called on the state and on the private sector to restrain their "thirst for data", and to deliberately accept the "incompleteness of information". This was better than collecting data "without end and aim", to the prejudice of individual rights.
Source: Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 4.7.95. [See also FECL No.26: "Commissioner for data protection in open con-flict with government"](/artikel/2602/).