Personal Data” series teaches Ukrainians how to keep their personal data safe online, fight violations

Kyiv, 4 June 2020 – The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, supported by the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine (UNDP), the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, and the CSO Privacy Hub is launching a series of educational videos called “Personal Data.”

The videos aim to teach people to be careful about putting their personal information online, to know their rights to protect their personal data, and what to do if these rights are violated. The ultimate goal of the video series is to decrease the number of violations in the area of personal data.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said the issue of personal data processing has always been and remains one of the highest priorities in the ministry’s work. “The ministry is actively involved in working groups to develop new legislation in the field of personal data, bringing it in line with international standards with the participation of partners,” he said.

During the presentation of the videos, UNDP Resident Representative to Ukraine Dafina Gercheva underlined the importance of personal data security as the world becomes ever more digitalized.

“Your personal data belongs to you – it is your property,” Gercheva said. “Yet today, people are often asked to provide such data online, in exchange for access to a website or social media account.”

“People have to know that such data is held securely, and that it won’t be abused, or passed to others without their consent. These videos aim to teach people how to keep their personal data, their virtual property, safe and secure.”

Liudmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights also commented that “Our citizens address the Commissioner for Human Rights regarding violations in the area of personal data. We received about 47,000 such complaints last year. That is why this series of educational videos about personal data will help people to protect their rights”.

According to a nationwide study on digital literacy initiated by the ministry at the end of 2019 and supported by UNDP in Ukraine’s Accelerator Lab, 53 percent of Ukrainian citizens possess digital literacy skills lower than the basic level, and 15.1 percent do not have any digital skills at all. Only 14.2 percent of the population of the country know how to protect their data online, the survey indicated.

To address this digital literacy gap, the educational series covers topics such as what personal data is; how personal data should be handled; what rights people have to their personal data; how to ensure that a website processes personal data safely; how to protect personal data in social media; and what people should do if their personal data rights are violated.

The video series is a product of the strategic partnership between the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and UNDP to enhance digital solutions for democracy and to promote digital literacy in Ukraine. It was developed by the Ministry of Digital Transformation with the support of the Human Rights for Ukraine (HR4U) project, implemented by UNDP in Ukraine with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

Background information:

UNDP Ukraine has built a strong partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation since the ministry was formed in August 2019, supporting such initiatives as #HackCorona, which engaged IT experts, civic activists, start-ups, journalists in developing IT-projects to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. It also contributed to the development of a Diia.Business platform for small- and medium sized enterprises, designing mobile solutions for administrative services provision in eastern Ukraine.

Media enquires:

Yuliia Samus; UNDP in Ukraine Communication Officer communications.ukraine@undp.org , +38 044 254 0035

Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine