Privacy in Belgium

Blacklist - opinion of the Belgian Privacy commission

AVIS N° 09 / 2005 du 15 juin 2005

OBJET : Demande d'avis sur un encadrement des listes noires.

ADVIES Nr 09 / 2005 van 15 juni 2005

BETREFT : Adviesaanvraag betreffende een omkadering van de zwarte lijsten.

Blacklist and data privacy

The project of a new law is presently circulating before the Belgian Parliament. It will create a new legal framework concerning the so-called blacklists and in particular the blacklists that are shared by more than one responsible. It maimly concerns the blacklist made within some sectors in order to check the financial situation of future customers.

The main principles are the following:

• multisectorial blacklist are forbidden
• there will be additional conditions in order to create a sectorial blacklist or an external blacklist
• specific declaration before the privacy commission
• privacy officer to be designated
• preliminary authorisation from the privacy commission
• additional information for the consumer
• additiona right to access
• more security

The practical question if of course, even if some blacklists are forbidden or more regulated: How could I know that I am in a blacklist?