The Office of the Personal data Protection Authority (Ombudsman) has commissioned a survey in order to assess opinions of the data subjects and citizens on its activities and its reputation. Results of the investigations show that data subjects perceive the cooperation with the Data Protection Authority as useful and that they need more interaction. Among citizens, the Data Protection Authority is known. There is an interest for personal data protection questions, but there is the desire to receive information in an easy to understand form.

Interested parties praise the competence and ask a clear positioning and guideline

According to responses of the data subjects, the majority (60%) is happy about their relationship with the Data Protection Authority. About a one-fifth of the data subjects is unsatisfied. Main improving area identified were: clarify services and the communication, develop online services and reduce response time.

The majority (67%) think that the reputation of the Office of the Data Protection Authority is good. Only one-tenth of interviewed think that the reputation of the Data Protection Authority is bad. Opinion on the reputation of the Office of the EDPS were additionally explored with different attributes. The Office is pursuit like competent, reliable and influent. Anyway, there is a space in order to improve the transparency, comprehensibility and customer focus.

Interested parties were also asked what their information needs were. The responses indicate that the Authority is expected to provide timely and comprehensible views on data protection issues, guidelines and a visible role as a social debater.

Interested parties were also invited to comment on the achievement of the social impact objectives of the Data Protection Authority office. Respondents felt that, in particular, public awareness of data protection rights and obligations was improved and that there was increased trust and transparency in privacy issues.

The work of the Data Protection Authority is considered important, but further awareness needs to be raised

The majority (87%) of respondents to the citizens’ survey believe that they are moderately or well aware of their data protection rights and the majority (76%) of respondents are also interested in data protection issues. In addition, almost all respondents (95%) consider it important that Finland has an authority that monitors compliance with data protection legislation and deals with data protection issues.

On the basis of the responses, it emerged that the Data Protection Authority office is reasonably known, although work is still needed to raise awareness. For the majority (65%) of respondents, the Data Protection Authority office knew at least the name, but only a third (36%) knew how to designate a data protection authority.

The responses of citizens also consider that the Data Protection Authority office is generally informed and reliable and underline the same areas of development as the responses of stakeholders. There is also a desire for greater clarity in the debate on data protection: there is a desire to obtain information on data protection issues, but the issue is often treated in public too vaguely.

Activities are developed on the basis of results

The Data Protection Authority office has received valuable information from investigations into its success in cooperation with stakeholders, communication and social impact objectives. The Office is in the process of reforming the strategy, on the basis of which the results of the study will be used. In this work, we try to pay attention to emerging development goals and desires.

The target group of the stakeholder survey was composed of experts and leaders of ministries and agencies, parliament, law enforcement, hospital districts, organizations and associations, universities and working and management groups. In addition, data protection officers from companies, public organizations, associations and educational institutions responded to the survey. The response rate to the survey was the 35%. About 1.000 Finnish people have replied to the survey.

SOURCE: AUTORITA’ PER LA PROTEZIONE DEI DATI DELLA FINLANDIA