The State secretary for the Protection of privacy, Philippe De Backer (Open Vld), wants to give more power to the Commission for the Protection of privacy.
It might soon be able to impose sanctions and fines and act in a proactive manner, he told the Eén television channel. This was due to a scandal involving a Puurs nursing home (Antwerp Province). Nurses took degrading photos of elderly people and shared them on a private Facebook group.
Mr De Backer says legal and ethical lines were crossed in this case. He thinks the six nurses should have been fired.
The State secretary wants the legislation on privacy and the Commission for the Protection of privacy to be strengthened. He thinks the judicial procedures are too long and the Commission should be able to hand out sanctions and fines.
Mr De Backer says the Commission should be able to act in a proactive manner, via preventative audits, for example.
He thinks citizens should know how to behave, and how they can protect their data.
