News

Commissioner Milan Marinović and Deputy Commissioner Sanja Unković participated in the 118th Plenary Session of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), held on 15 and 16 April 2026 in Brussels.

The topic of this session was personal data protection in light of increasing challenges due to the rapid development of modern technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as the harmonisation of regulations in this regard. Representatives of data protection authorities from over thirty European countries participated in this session.

As part of the cooperation between the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection and the Standing Conference of Cities and Municipalities (SKGO), the first training on personal data protection for local self-government units was successfully carried out in Belgrade on April 7 and 8.

The training in Belgrade is the first of seven planned training sessions on “Personal Data Protection”, as part of the “Partnership for Good Local Government” project, supported by the Government of Switzerland, and was implemented according to the Sectoral Program for Professional Development for 2026, adopted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

The two-day seminar brought together 30 employees from local self-government units in the territory of Serbia.

Accredited lecturers from the Sector for Education and Certification, Marin Cetinić and Aleksandra Lakićević, guided the participants through key aspects of the Personal Data Protection Law implementation.

The lecturers focused on the practical application of the Law and personal data processing security.

The training took place in an exceptional working atmosphere and through a dynamic discussion, wherein the participants and the lecturers discussed in detail the key areas:

• The role and tasks of the Data Protection Officer.
• Precise definition of responsibilities within local self-government units.
• Lawfulness of processing: Correct recognition of the legal basis for collecting and processing citizens' data.
• Protection measures: Implementation of technical, personnel, and organizational measures to ensure the security of personal data processing.
• Compliance with the Law: Practical steps in the process of harmonizing all internal processes with the provisions of the Personal Data Protection Law.

Through interactive lectures and case studies, the participants tested their acquired knowledge, confirming a high level of readiness for applying data protection standards in the daily work of local administrations.

The continuation of the training cycle is planned in the upcoming period for other local self-government units throughout Serbia.

Commissioner Milan Marinović, Deputy Commissioner Sanja Unković, and Head of the IT Sector Dragana Jovanović participated in the Fifth Congress of Lawyers ICOOLAW2026, organized by the KEC Group, held from March 24 to 28 in Bled. This year's Congress is dedicated to various aspects of artificial intelligence use, and the Commissioner's delegation participated in a panel focused on the relationship between the use of artificial intelligence and personal data protection. This year's Congress included over 300 participants from the countries of the former Yugoslavia.

The Office of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection participated in the roundtable on the topic of "Privacy Protection in the Digital Environment" organized by the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade on 16 and 17 March 2026 in Vrdnik. During the two-day expert dialogue on the protection of privacy in the media, representatives of the Commissioner's Office held three presentations on the topics of privacy, personal data protection, and the enforcement practice of the Commissioner.

In addition to the Commissioner's Office, the event was attended by judges of the Supreme Court, the courts of appeal in Belgrade and Kragujevac, the higher courts in Belgrade and Zrenjanin, as well as the Basic Court in Sombor, with representatives of the Judicial Academy, the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media, The Journalists' Association of Serbia, and the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia.

During the said two-day expert dialogue, the following conclusions were adopted:

1. Protection of the right to privacy in the media is a joint responsibility of regulatory, supervisory, self-regulatory bodies, and professional actors. The Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM), the Office of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, the Press Council, the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) and the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), although they have different mandates, share a common interest and responsibility to contribute to a more consistent protection of privacy in the media space.
2. In particularly sensitive cases, it is necessary to consider the possibility of joint or coordinated preventive action through public announcements, warnings, or reminders of relevant standards. The participants assessed that, in situations where there is a high risk of privacy violation, especially in cases involving minors, victims of tragedies, or circumstances followed by intense media interest, relevant actors can jointly or coordinately indicate valid privacy protection standards. It was emphasized that such communication should have a preventive and educational character, and not a repressive purpose.
3. It is necessary to consider the establishment of a mechanism for communication between competent institutions and professional associations. The participants indicated that such a mechanism could enable timely notification of high-risk cases, exchange of basic information, and timely reminder of legal and ethical standards, without prejudicing responsibility in specific cases.
4. Consideration should be given to developing short common guidelines or protocols for dealing with cases of high privacy risk. It was recognized that there was a need to develop, through inter-institutional cooperation, a concise and practically oriented document that would contain basic issues relevant to risk assessment.
5. Special attention must be paid to protecting the privacy of minors, victims of accidents, violence, and other traumatic events, as well as other particularly sensitive persons and their family members. The participants agree that in these situations it is necessary to apply an increased degree of professional attention, responsibility, and caution, bearing in mind the possible long-term consequences for the dignity, safety, and well-being of the affected persons.