It is the Church and not GIODO that applies canonic law

It is not true that GIODO applies canonic law, as it only indicates when the representatives of the Church while processing personal data are obliged to apply this law, just as other institutions apply their own industry provisions.

The article „The list of the unfaithful” published on 1 October 2009 in „Nie” weekly contains a few untrue statements which may mislead the readers.

Therefore GIODO explains that the Act on Personal Data Protection establishes only general rules on personal data protection and refers to specific provisions regulating the activity of particular sectors. So, e.g. banks, telecommunications operators, insurance companies or the Church have their own legal provisions, which override the Act on Personal Data Protection. The latter shall apply only in the scope not regulated by industry provisions.

These principles are explained in the so called best practice codes, constituting sets of principles, standards of conduct and provisions on personal data protection in the activity of particular entities and institutions. Such documents have been developed, in cooperation with GIODO, by the representatives of the property, marketing and banking sectors. And another document of this type is the Instruction “Personal data protection in the activity of the Catholic Church in Poland”.