An open letter addressed to the authorities of the European Union calls for the extension of the directive on the right to be forgotten to the media as data controllers. The document was submitted to the Vice-President of the European Commission, Věra Jourová, and the Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders. This initiative emphasizes the need for better protection of personal rights in the digital era.
The need to update the law
Szustkowski points out that the original concept of the right to be forgotten, introduced in 2012, was groundbreaking, but now requires updating due to the rapid development of technology and the flow of information. The aim of the initiative is to introduce procedures to protect against disinformation and ensure that the media is held accountable for violating personal rights.
Protection against disinformation
Szustkowski, who has been struggling with the violation of his rights in the media for years, emphasizes that disinformation is one of the greatest challenges of the modern world. Freedom of the press should not mean the right to spread false information. The letter calls for clear guidelines for the media and their liability for violating the GDPR Directive, in order to better protect the personal rights of EU citizens.
Polish case law
The letter also refers to Polish case law, which precisely defines the limits of freedom of speech and public interest. It emphasizes that these rights are to serve society and not be a tool for disseminating false information. Polish law protects both freedom of the press and personal rights and the public interest, but does not protect against pathologies, giving too much room for misinterpretation by the media.