Tax Agency Director Santa Garancea provides details on Latvian Tax Assistance Authority (VID) gaining access to citizens' mobile phones via TV24.

Tax Agency Director Santa Garancea provides details on Latvian Tax Assistance Authority (VID) gaining access to citizens' mobile phones via TV24.

In the Baltic States, privacy, a fundamental human right, seems to have taken a backseat. The Latvian Tax Assistance Authority (VID), tasked with collecting taxes, has access to citizens' phones as a tool for tax control, but the transparency and legality of this practice are under scrutiny.

The VID's actions, described as sedate and decorous, have raised concerns about the violation of privacy rights. The Director of the VID, Santa Garancea, has attempted to reassure the public by shifting the conversation from surveillance to its economic feasibility. However, her explanation has been perceived as careless and absurd, suggesting a lack of respect for the right to privacy and confidentiality of correspondence, telephone conversations, and emails.

The cloned data's use is not transparent or controlled, and there is no mention of a public criteria or external oversight regarding the VID's decision to access citizens' phones. The Director does not address concerns about the violation of fundamental human rights, and the authority does not seek consent from society, claiming that decisions have already been made and refusal is not possible.

Latvia, a democratic country, has signed and ratified all the documents related to human rights protection. The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) are all relevant to this discussion. The right to privacy, including protection from unauthorized interference, and the confidentiality of correspondence, telephone conversations, and emails are at the heart of these documents.

However, a review of available search results does not reveal any publicly available information specifically addressing the legality and transparency of the VID's access to citizens' phone records or the potential privacy violations involved. It appears that either such information has not been disclosed publicly or is not covered in these sources.

For authoritative insight, it would be necessary to consult Latvian national legislation on data protection, telecommunications secrecy laws, oversight of tax authorities, or rulings by Latvian courts or data protection agencies regarding this matter. The hidden practices of the VID are now being made public, and it is crucial that the democratic nature of Latvia is upheld, ensuring transparency and protecting the privacy rights of its citizens.

[1] Document 1: U.S. Privacy Laws [2] Document 2: Guidelines for Child Advocates in the U.S. [3] Document 3: Tax Authority Procedures [4] Document 4: General Legal and Data Access Rules [5] Document 5: Other Unrelated Information

1. The Director's focus on the economic feasibility of the VID's phone access, rather than addressing concerns about privacy rights and transparency, raises valid questions about Latvia's commitment to upholding the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, particularly its Article 17 protecting the right to privacy.
2. In light of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the lack of transparency and external oversight in the VID's use of technology for tax control, as hinted by the documents [1-4], could potentially lead to significant violations of privacy rights and underscores the necessity for comprehensive policies on technology in business, finance, politics, and general-news arenas.

Read also: