The Personal Data Protection Office on the tour across Poland – stop in Suwałki- report

Mirosław Wróblewski, the President of the Personal Data Protection Office, and his colleagues visited Suwałki in Podlaskie Voivodeship as part of the ‘Personal Data Protection Office on the tour across Poland’ initiative. One of the events that took place during the visit was a debate organised at the Public Vocational University in Suwałki, in which participated among others the President of the Personal Data Protection Office, Mirosław Wróblewski, representatives of the Police (from the Metropolitan Police and the Voivodeship Police in Białystok), the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime, the army, as well as students.

During his speech, the President of the Personal Data Protection Office raised issues related to the development of new technologies, including the deepfake phenomenon, and actions taken by the Personal Data Protection Office at national and international level towards the largest online platforms in order to protect the public against abuses in the processing of personal data.

Police representatives presented practical security rules worth applying to remain cautious and protect your data in the digital world. In turn, experts from the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime shared numerous examples of cybercrimes and discussed the mechanisms of specific fraud methods. They also pointed out the most important principles, compliance with which can help to avoid serious, often catastrophic financial consequences. The presented examples clearly showed that the weakest element of any security system remains a human being.

A representative of the army discussed issues related to the protection of personal data during military qualification.

The President of the Personal Data Protection Office together with the Director of the Social Projects Department of the Personal Data Protection Office, Anna Grzelak, met with the President of the City of Suwałki, Czesław Renkiewicz. During the meeting, the most important practical problems in the field of data processing and protection in the region as well as the challenges faced by residents due to demographic and social changes were discussed.

As part of the Personal Data Protection Office’s visit to Suwałki, a meeting with controllers and data protection officers was also held. Mirosław Wróblewski, President of the Personal Data Protection Office, and Monika Kurzajewska, Chief Specialist of the Law and New Technologies Department discussed the challenges related to the processing of personal data in the activities of public bodies.

In addition, at the Suwałki City Hall at ul. Mickiewicza were organised consultations for residents, during which Izabela Maryańska, an expert at the Complaints and Breaches Preliminary Assessment Department provided answers to numerous questions on personal data protection.

During his stay in Suwałki, the President of the Personal Data Protection Office gave an interview to Radio Bialystok, among others. The media support was provided by the Social Communication Department headed by Karol Witowski.

The aim of the action ‘Personal Data Protection Office on the tour across Poland’’ is to bring the Office’s activities closer to the residents of various regions of Poland through direct meetings, debates and expert consultations, as well as real support for public administration bodies and personal data protection specialists. The visit to Podlaskie Voivodship is already the ninth regional visit of the President of the Personal Data Protection Office, Mirosław Wróblewski.