At the end of May, the Director of the Data State Inspectorate of Latvia (DVI), Jekaterina Macuka, participated in the CPDP Conference ("Computers, Privacy and Data Protection") — one of the most prominent global events in the field of data protection. Held in Brussels, the conference brought together leading experts, policymakers, and technology professionals from around the world. This year, the discussions focused on the challenges that modern technologies pose to data protection and human rights, including artificial intelligence, biometrics, and big data analytics.
Jekaterina Macuka joined representatives from EUROPOL, the Irish Police Service, the Netherlands Police, and the Swiss Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) in a panel discussion on the role and responsibilities of the Data Protection Officer (DPO) within European law enforcement authorities.
During the discussion, the so-called “double role” of the DPO was emphasized — being an employee of the institution, yet often positioned in opposition to institutional interests in order to uphold data protection principles such as data minimisation and transparency.
The panellists compared DPOs to canaries in the coal mine — warning of potential non-compliance risks. This comparison highlighted the DPO’s essential function as an early alert mechanism, ensuring that data protection standards are respected.
The panel concluded that only through close cooperation between DPOs and law enforcement staff can a shared and effective result be achieved — safeguarding personal data while ensuring public security.
Director Macuka underscored the need for a consistent and targeted approach that maintains public trust in law enforcement institutions, while also enabling the effective and legally compliant implementation of new technologies. DPOs, she noted, are the key figures in building this trust and ensuring that data protection principles are upheld.
The CPDP Conference has served for more than fifteen years as an international platform for cross-sectoral dialogue on the future of data protection, legal development, and the impact of technologies on human rights. DVI’s participation confirms Latvia’s active engagement in European-level data protection debates and fosters practical cooperation and knowledge exchange with counterparts across the EU.