Personal data is an integral part of everyone's life. Their uniqueness's based on a fact that reveal our privacy, our identity. Even if we're in principle sensitive about things which relate to us, we sometimes forget to protect them. Personal information are required from us almost everywhere. They're widely used in various databases, and as long as they're not enough protected, it's not a problem to access and abuse them. And therefore, if you decide for example register in an online store you carefully read everything before confirming your approval by signing. We ask for the reasons for providing the birth number, the ID card number, legal standards which allow it. Don't provide your personal information by phone and when you use a social networks. We begin to realize the importance of protecting personal data usually until it leaks or abuse. In addition to this invasion to privacy it can also have unpleasant consequences. They can be easily abused for fraud or other criminal activity.

 

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See also:

Protective measures for your Facebook account

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This issue isn't as simple and straightforward as it first appears. And because all of us care about it's appropriate to have at least basic knowledge of the laws which protect them. We should know that personal data isn't only the title, name, surname, address, mail, telephone number, birth number, date of birth, biometric data (eg voice, signature), but also information about property, finance, and other specific features and personal characteristics that can identify you as a particular physical person. Personal data must be considered in relation to each other. For example, the name and surname or birth number itself without any other information isn't considered as a personal data. But if we combined these data (name, surname, birth number) it would be considered as a personal data.

We should have close attention in a case when the operator requests a copy of the identity card or other official documents (such as a birth certificate, a marriage certificate, a judgment). A copy of the identity card in high quality can be exploited to produce a false document, and therefore we should allow the copying or scanning only in cases, when it's required by a specific law.

According to the Personal Data Protection Act, to obtain personal data by copying, scanning or recording of official documents can be used only with the consent from concerned person or, if a law expressly allows, without this consent. The system controller mustn't to enforce consent from concerned person and not to make it conditional by threatening to refuse a contractual relationship, service, goods or obligations. There are some specific examples where the system controller can obtain personal data without consent from concerned person. The Banks for the purpose of detection, verification, and identification checks clients can collect personal data by copying, scanning or other recording from an identity document (Banking Act).

An operator is authorized in accordance Personal Data Protection Act to obtain personal data by copying, scanning (eg proof of education, proof of professional competence) or by special laws to make a copy of the child's birth certificate (eg Tax Act). In accordance with the Personal Data Protection for the identification purposes of identifying individual person, at one - time entry into its spaces, operator is entitled to request the title, name, surname and ID card number, service card number or travel document number, nationality and demonstrate the truth of data provided by the document presented.

Individual person allows to authorized person insight into the identity card or provide identity card for the time of writing or retrieving required data. However don't give to someone identity card in any way.  In this context, attention should be noted also on Act on Citizens' Cards, under which an identity card mustn't be submit or accept as a subject of lien. It may not be submit or removed at the entrance to the building or to the land and may not be submit or removed in connection with the provision of services. A person who would require submit of a citizen's card (such as rental, accommodation, dormitories, etc.) commit an offence. The operator (railway company of Slovakia) can requires name, surname and ID number when purchasing a ticket via the Internet for the unique identification purpose in a train control. And what to say in conclusion? Let's be careful when you're providing personal data, don’t give opportunity to abuse them, and remember that we always have the right to know why someone requires this data from us.