Brussels, 05/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 4 February, Peter Hustinx, European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), adopted an opinion on the draft regulation aimed at updating current rules relating to civil aviation accident investigation. The opinion focuses on aspects of the proposal that have an impact on personal data protection, including the processing of data from passenger lists, victims, families and witnesses during the different stages of the investigation and in the context of an exchange of information between investigation authorities.
Although the EDPS welcomes the fact that data protection aspects are taken into account in the proposal, it nonetheless considers further safeguards should be taken to ensure confidentiality of the data, including provisions requiring the deletion of personal data or making personal data anonymous as soon as possible when it is no longer needed for the investigation. Hustinx also recommends: - keeping the list of passengers confidential as a principle, while providing the possibility for member states to decide in specific cases and on legitimate grounds to make information available, after having informed all families and obtained their consent for the publication of the name of their relative; - providing for a limited period of storage of personal data; - ensuring a coordinated procedure for access, rectification and deletion of personal data, especially in the context of their transmission to member states through the proposed network allowing safety investigation authorities to exchange information; - submitting the transmission of personal data to third countries on the condition that they provide an adequate level of protection; - and clarifying the role and responsibilities of the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency in the application of the data protection regulation. (A.By./transl.jl)