GIODO explained in TVP INFO which data could be collected by carriers, 29 December 2009

The individual travelcard is not an ID card, so name, surname, photograph and PESEL number (Personal Identification Number) shall not be put on it by carriers – believes GIODO.

Michał Serzycki, the Inspector General for Personal Data Protection, touched upon this matter during the interview given to TVP INFO, conducted by Diana Rudnik. He explained that the scope of data to be collected by carriers was the subject of the Inspector General’s analysis. – As a result of that analysis we concluded that the individual travelcard for sure shall not include PESEL number – he said. In his opinion, if the card indicated such data as the passenger’s name, surname, photograph and PESEL number, it would be alike an ID card. Besides, loosing such a document would be dangerous for its owner.

Carriers have the right to collect the passenger’s PESEL number, but they can process it only in their computer system – clarified Michał Serzycki – because it can be necessary to unambiguous identification of a passenger, for example for the purpose of giving him/her a ticket or handling various complaints. There may be many situations in which carriers need to be sure about the person’s identity. More than one John Smith can live in a big city and two persons having the same name and surname can be registered at the same address.