The Ministry of Interior fails the Second Test with its proposed Law on Security Guards

The Ministry of Interior can claim the doubtful glory of submitting the same bill – with a seven-year lag – that the Constitutional Court has again rendered as anti-constitutional for the lack of data protection measures and for ignoring rights to privacy. Let’s face it, this is not without precedent but a lot need to be done to follow this act. As a reward for this extraordinary performance we have presented the Ministry and the presidents of the two Parliamentary committees in question with ornately bound constitutions.

In June 2004 the Constitutional Court passed a decision about the Law on Security Guards. The Court adjudicated that the Ministry was in violation of the constitution by default because the Parliament did not define the requirements of privacy and data-handling regulations in the law of 1998, No. 4, on the Chamber of Body- and Security Guards, and Private Detectives.

The Ministry first tried to modify the old law, but this bill had such serious gaps that a completely new version was finally submitted to Parliament. Parliament approved the law way beyond the deadline, set by the Constitutional Court, but then President Madl, using his power as president, sent the bill to the Constitutional Court on May 20, 2005 for a preliminary check. The now former President complained again about the deficiency of data protection measures, especially on the premises of private property open to the public (i.e. malls, department stores, movie theaters, theaters, etc. ) where cameras are being installed.

Share

Related articles

On the Transparency of Civil Society Organisations

It has been alleged multiple times in recent years that civil society organisations operate in a non-transparent fashion, and do not reveal the sources of their funding. It therefore makes sense to clear up any confusion: this document outlines the current regulations regarding transparency and reporting requirements for civil society organisations. If the goal is actually to increase transparency, this paper will also explain how this can be achieved without increasing reporting tasks which are already quite time-consuming. We will also try to find the reason why organisations established by groups of citizens should, in the first place, be held to the same principles as those applying to the state.

Read more »

Hungarian Government Obstructs Access to Morning-After Pill

Three Hungarian NGOs are seeking answers from the state health authority after it decided against granting over-the-counter access to a morning-after pill out of concern for women's health.

Read more »

HCLU Accounts to the Public, not to GCO

We consider the attempts by the Government Control Office (GCO) to audit our programs financed by the Norway NGO Fund a political attack. We will reveal everything to the public, but not to the government, which has no jurisdiction over this sphere of activities. As advocates of freedom rights we often urge citizens to actively protect their rights. Now the time has come for us to protect ourselves against this politically motivated unlawful attack. We consider the accusations that we use the Norwegian money to support LMP (Politics Can Be Different) and other leftwing liberal parties absurd. We always criticise those in power for abusing their power and violating rights; that’s what we always did, and that’s what we still do.

Read more »