The Guarantor signed the memorandum of understanding with the Guardia di Finanza to implement regular control strategies in order to verify compliance with the rules governing the protection of digital personal data that we enter online. What should we expect? What could happen now?

If we are up to date with the regulations, the answer is absolutely nothing. It makes you breathe a big sigh of relief, however, knowing that someone is starting to take matters seriously. The agreement started on 31 March 2021 and will concern a control plan.

The control plan will allow the finance police, together with the privacy guarantor, to start an operation of checks to verify compliance with the rules governing the safeguarding and protection of personal data. What exactly does that mean? It means that from accessing data on individuals to planning and implementing initiatives in the context of international cooperation, the authorities will be able to ensure ample leeway to intervene where necessary.

You can find all items in the Press release published on March 31, 2021 by the Privacy Guarantor. At the forefront of implementing a uniform and effective strategy is the privacy group of the special nucleus for privacy protection and technological fraud - which will also have the possibility of making use of other departments located throughout the country. The goal, of course, is always the same:

The memorandum is a tool for decisive strengthening of the lines of supervision of legality in the goods and services market, to protect citizens, in an important and delicate segment – ​​namely that of potential vulnerability and sensitive personal data. Often, in fact, they are not treated according to the provisions in force, remaining at the mercy of ill-intentioned or neglected.

What does this protocol include? How will the checks work out?

The Finance Police will become the eye of the privacy guarantor on the territory. In the event of particular situations, however, the Guarantor himself will come into play alongside the finance authority. The controls will range from:

• Retrieval of data and information on subjects subject to verification;
• Access to databases, inspections, checks and on-site surveys where the treatments take place, including the tools and means of data processing;
• Assistance in relations with the judicial authority;
• Development of delegated or sub-delegated activities for the verification of violations regarding the protection of personal data;
• Participation of own personnel to carry out joint operations with authorities of other countries.

The Fiamme Gialle will also be involved in the course of fact-finding investigations, in the notification of the deeds and measures adopted in the exercise of the powers pursuant to art. 58 of EU regulation 2016/679, the execution of online checks to analyze websites and telematic tools used to verify if personal data receive adequate protection.

The goal is to perform periodic checks to ensure the implementation of all regulations aimed at protecting user data.

What will change in practice for all of us is still to be determined. In the meantime, we anxiously watch these changes, hoping for an ever better and safer online survival – at least when it comes to data protection.