News
This is how Costa Rica closes 2023 in terms of privacy and data protection
2023 has been a year of growth and learning for Costa Rica in terms of privacy. Two takeaways on local supervisory authority dynamics and a landmark controversy with political and social impact are introduced below.
The local supervisory authority remains busy despite its budget constraints.
Statistics from PRODHAB (local DPA) as of November 27, 2023 show that 55 formal complaints have been processed this year. A total of 1,489 complaints since 2014, where the banking and financial, commercial and collection management sectors have received the highest number of complaints with 302, 262 and 253 respectively. The main reasons for complaints from data subjects include (i) requesting the deletion of personal data (601 complaints); (ii) collect, store, transmit or use personal data without prior informed consent (256 complaints); and (iii) collect, store, transmit or use personal data for a purpose other than that previously authorized (235 complaints).
As in recent years, throughout 2023 PRODHAB has implemented a solid in-person and virtual training program on various privacy topics, sometimes aimed at the general public and other times at specific sectors or entities. The profiles and nationalities of the speakers continue to be diverse which benefits the debates. "Gender violence and respect for privacy", "Processing of personal data in research and pharmaceutical work", and "OpenAI and ChatGPT in Public Policy and Management" are some topics of training activities recently promoted by PRODHAB on its official social networks.
Taking into account that citizens are becoming more informed about their privacy rights, it is likely that the number of formal complaints in 2024 will be equal to or greater than 2023. Although sanctioning procedures initiated ex officio by PRODHAB are not yet a trend in Costa Rica, it is evident that local and multinational companies with a presence in the country are increasingly interested in aligning their operations and commercial initiatives with the applicable local regulations; among other reasons, to meet the requirements of its own suppliers and business partners, as well as reduce legal and reputational risks.
During the second half of the year, a milestone in terms of privacy occurred.
In line with the already mentioned prominence of the banking and financial sector as well as the growing and sustained exposure of Costa Ricans to privacy issues, a controversy began in August 2023: The General Superintendent (highest position) of the General Superintendence of Financial Entities (SUGEF) would have been criminally denounced by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) for the alleged crime of disobedience to authority. The reason: SUGEF decided not to respond to a request from the BCCR to share with the latter individualized and comprehensive data on credit operations and certain personal data of clients of supervised financial intermediaries, including public and private banks with operations in Costa Rica.
A few days later, news spread that the BCCR had also made similar requests to public and private banks (some of which did respond to the BCCR's request) and to other public entities such as the Tax Authority and the Costa Rican Social Security Fund.
All this motivated different actors to join the discussion. PRODHAB, the Costa Rican Banking Association, the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of the Private Business Sector, the Deputy Attorney General's Office for Probity, Transparency and Anti-Corruption; the Financial Consumer Office and the Legislative Assembly were some of them.
The discussion is still active in some channels, such as the case of the Constitutional Chamber of Costa Rica, so it will undoubtedly bring learning and maturity to the country in terms of privacy and protection of personal data.
Article provided by INPLP member: Fabian Solis (Aguilar Castillo Love, Costa Rica)
Discover more about the INPLP and the INPLP-Members
Dr. Tobias Höllwarth (Managing Director INPLP)
News Archiv
- Alle zeigen
- April 2024
- März 2024
- Februar 2024
- Jänner 2024
- Dezember 2023
- November 2023
- Oktober 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- Juli 2023
- Juni 2023
- Mai 2023
- April 2023
- März 2023
- Februar 2023
- Jänner 2023
- Dezember 2022
- November 2022
- Oktober 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- Juli 2022
- Mai 2022
- April 2022
- März 2022
- Februar 2022
- November 2021
- September 2021
- Juli 2021
- Mai 2021
- April 2021
- Dezember 2020
- November 2020
- Oktober 2020
- Juni 2020
- März 2020
- Dezember 2019
- Oktober 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- Juli 2019
- Juni 2019
- Mai 2019
- April 2019
- März 2019
- Februar 2019
- Jänner 2019
- Dezember 2018
- November 2018
- Oktober 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- Juli 2018
- Juni 2018
- Mai 2018
- April 2018
- März 2018
- Februar 2018
- Dezember 2017
- November 2017
- Oktober 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- Juli 2017
- Juni 2017
- Mai 2017
- April 2017
- März 2017
- Februar 2017
- November 2016
- Oktober 2016
- September 2016
- Juli 2016
- Juni 2016
- Mai 2016
- April 2016
- März 2016
- Februar 2016
- Jänner 2016
- Dezember 2015
- November 2015
- Oktober 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- Juli 2015
- Juni 2015
- Mai 2015
- April 2015
- März 2015
- Februar 2015
- Jänner 2015
- Dezember 2014
- November 2014
- Oktober 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- Juli 2014
- Juni 2014
- Mai 2014
- April 2014
- März 2014
- Februar 2014
- Jänner 2014
- Dezember 2013
- November 2013
- Oktober 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- Juli 2013
- Juni 2013
- Mai 2013
- April 2013
- März 2013
- Februar 2013
- Jänner 2013
- Dezember 2012
- November 2012
- Oktober 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- Juli 2012
- Juni 2012
- Mai 2012
- April 2012
- März 2012
- Februar 2012
- Jänner 2012
- Dezember 2011
- November 2011
- Oktober 2011
- September 2011
- Juli 2011
- Juni 2011
- Mai 2011
- April 2011
- März 2011
- Februar 2011
- Jänner 2011
- November 2010
- Oktober 2010
- September 2010
- Juli 2010