Since Friday, a furore has erupted regarding Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou, whom many citizens are directly or indirectly accusing of violating personal data. The Data Protection Authority is taking over the case of Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou and the issue of the leakage of citizens' personal data for her communication activities in the context of her election campaign.
According to many complaints from Greeks abroad, they have received promotional political e-mails from the New Democracy MEP, while they have never given their e-mail addresses to either her or her party.
Ms. Asimakopoulou, clearly alarmed by the breadth of negative comments, replies that she collected the emails herself.
Many recipients believe that their details were harvested from the Ministry of Interior database where they filled out forms for postal voting.
Expatriates are reporting a violation of the GDPR (European General Data Protection Regulation) and that they received Ms. Asimakopoulou's email two hours after their communication with the Ministry of Interior. The email advertises Ms. Asimakopoulou's candidacy in the European elections.
As a reminder, the General Data Protection Regulation, abbreviated GDPR, is a European Union on the protection of information in the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA). It is an important pillar of European data protection and human rights law. The objectives of the GDPR are to strengthen the control and rights of individuals over their personal data and to simplify regulations for international businesses.
Of course, there are users who emphasize that they never contacted Ms. Asimakopoulou, and she herself, in the above post, emphasizes that "I operate my office and the data in my office in full compliance with the operating regulations. I do not claim infallibility. If someone tells me in an audit that I should do something differently, I will of course do it. These days I am experiencing incredible bullying."
Questions about the security of postal voting were raised by Preveza MP SYRIZA - Progressive Alliance Costas Barkas on the occasion of the alleged leak of personal data to ND MEP Anna Michelle Asimakopoulou in violation of EU data protection legislation (GDPR).
User Manolis Mavrantonakis made a relevant post on his Facebook page in which he states that he had registered on the Ministry of Interior's page with a separate email and thus knows where the relevant list leak came from.
The Data Protection Authority is taking on the case of Anna Michelle Asimakopoulou and the issue of the leakage of citizens' personal data for her communication activities in the context of her election campaign .
According to the relevant announcement, the Authority's decision comes following the submission of a large number of relevant complaints.
"In response to questions raised by the media regarding the alleged sending of unsolicited electronic communication by an MEP to Greeks abroad in view of the European elections, the Authority announces that, following the submission of a large number of relevant complaints, it immediately initiated a procedure to examine the matter," the announcement states.
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