Management: Protection of personal data has high priority
What risks does the increasing linking of personal data in public administration entail? Representatives of Zurich's executive and legislative branches as well as the data protection commissioner addressed this important aspect at an event.
The correct handling of information in public administration, for example in open government data or the protection and security of data, must be guaranteed at all costs. Every effort must be made to ensure that citizens' trust in the administration's data processing is maintained, said Rolf Steiner, President of the Zurich Cantonal Council, at the event "Challenges of digitalization and legislative developments" held by the Data Protection Officer of the Canton of Zurich on May 3, 2017. The occasion was the Information and Data Protection Act (IDG).
Positive experience
According to Bruno Baeriswyl, data protection officer for the canton of Zurich, the IDG led to a paradigm shift ten years ago by combining the two sides of the coin for the first time, namely access to and protection of information. In the meantime, however, digitization has gained a lot of speed. The walls of administrative buildings had been blown down and data had become mobile. Efforts to ensure the security and protection of data must therefore be stepped up. Digital exchange requires new, adapted rules.
The publicity principle has had a positive effect on the quality of external communication, said Ingrid Hieronymi, town clerk of the town of Schlieren, in her review of the experience with the IDG. The effort required for handling applications remains manageable.
European legal developments and eGovernment
Robert Weniger, data protection delegate of the University of Zurich, showed in his presentation the need for action in cantonal legislation due to European legal developments. The renewal of Convention 108 of the Council of Europe as well as the Schengen-relevant parts of the new EU Directive required adjustments to the IDG. In addition, the exchange of data with the EU is only possible if Switzerland guarantees an appropriate level of data protection at both federal and cantonal level.
On behalf of the cantonal administration, Peppino Giarritta, head of the eGovernment unit, explained the status and future prospects of digitization on the basis of ongoing projects such as Open Government Data and eVoting, as well as the government's Digital Administration Strategy. Strengthening the informational self-determination of citizens and further developing the principle of public access are crucial to the success of these developments.
Strengthen civil rights
Government Councilor Fehr emphasized that the canton of Zurich has a long tradition as a pioneer. "This gives me confidence that we will also tackle the challenges of digitization in the area of eGovernment. In the full knowledge that aberrations are an integral part of any progress."
"We are living in exciting times. But the pace we are setting in Switzerland is too slow," Fehr continued. The population is entitled to full transparency about the processing of their data, he said. "With the upcoming revisions at the European, federal and cantonal levels, we have the chance to take a striking step in the direction of strengthened civil rights." He said the canton is setting up a working group these days to prepare the necessary revision of the Information and Data Protection Act.
Source: State Chancellery of Canton. Zurich
