Protection of personal data is one of the fundamental prerequisites for preserving our own security—whether it’s about us as individuals or about companies and institutions. In every country, this topic is covered by different legal frameworks, and bodies established specifically for this purpose are responsible for their implementation. In Montenegro, this field is regulated by the Law on Personal Data Protection, with the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data serving as the supervisory authority.
As a large portion of business and communication is conducted online through various platforms today, it’s more important than ever to understand what rights and obligations we have when it comes to protecting personal data. This allows us to safeguard ourselves against identity theft, limit the analysis of our data for targeted advertising, and protect our physical security.
Providing too much information in what seems like a harmless context can cost us in another. Think about whether you’ve ever explicitly given your contact details to companies that call you offering a “limited-time offer made just for you with an unbelievable discount if you act now”? The answer is probably no. So, how do they call you? Most likely because, at some point, you filled out a coupon to participate in a prize contest without reading the terms, where you were required to provide your name, surname, address, phone number, and email.
Do you think it was necessary to provide this much personal information? Certainly not. Did someone then decide to use this information for purposes where it wasn’t permitted? Most likely, yes.
This is just one example where someone in the chain responsible for the fair and lawful processing of data did not adhere to the regulations of any well-governed state. The importance of this area is reflected in the fact that the European Union introduced the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) back in 2018, which details how both individuals and legal entities are protected and what obligations they have if they process someone else’s data in any way.
Before we dive deeper into examples of why your privacy and personal data protection are important, think about all the situations where you’ve wondered, “How could someone know this about me?” Whether it’s a survey from a political party, a sales call from a company you’ve never heard of, or a sponsored post on your favorite social media platform about a topic you just discussed with your friends.
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