Bakom collects journalists' data - and goes too far in the process
To ensure proper working conditions at licensed broadcasters, the Federal Office of Communications collects data on the permanent employees of radio and TV stations. The data protection officer disagrees with this.
How the Switzerland at the weekend reported in the current issue, licensed radio and TV broadcasters are requested by Bakom to send in by mail the AHV wage statement of all permanent employees. In addition, an Excel list with personal, salary and employment data is to be submitted.
Bakom is collecting the data with a view to the next licensing period from 2020 to 2024. The reason: the federal office wants to ensure that decent working conditions prevail at the licensed broadcasters. And it is basing its approach on the legal obligation to clarify the licensing requirements. Anyone wishing to obtain a license must not only comply with industry standards, but also provide all relevant information upon request.
Nevertheless, the Federal Data Protection Commissioner believes that Bakom is going too far with this procedure. The surname and first name of the journalists - and the possible identification of individual persons associated with this - are not necessary for the survey of working conditions, spokesman Hugo Wyler told the Switzerland at the weekend. This depth of data was not "fit for purpose" and thus should not be collected.
The newspaper finds this data protection procedure astonishing. After all, Bakom is experienced in recording working conditions that are customary in the industry - for example, for postmen or bus drivers. Until now, however, the data was obtained through random sampling, the Federal Statistical Office or anonymized surveys. (hae)
