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Contributed by Kinstellar
Last updated February 2024
General | Data Protection Laws
National Legislation
National Supervisory Authority
Scope of Application
Personal Data
Sensitive Personal Data
Data Protection Officers
Accountability and Privacy Impact Assessments
Rights of Data Subjects
Security
Transfer of Personal Data to Third Countries
Enforcement
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National Legislation
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Marketing by E-mail
Marketing by Telephone
General data protection laws
The General Data Protection Regulation (EU) (2016/679) (“GDPR”).
Act No. 18/2018 Coll. on the Protection of Personal Data (the “Act”) which implements the GDPR was adopted by the Slovak Parliament on 29 November 2017. It was published in the Collection of Laws on 30 January 2018. The Act entered into force on 25 May 2018.
The Decree of the Office for Personal Data Protection no. 158/2018 Coll. on Data Protection Impact Assessment Procedure (the “Decree“).
In addition, the draft of the Decree of the Office for Personal Data Protection on the certification criteria, certification procedures, content of the technical and security documentation and the conditions for the data protection audits, including requirements on professional qualities of data protection auditor, is currently in the preparatory stage.
Entry into force
The GDPR has applied since 25 May 2018.
Details of the competent national supervisory authority
The Office for Personal Data Protection of the Slovak Republic (Úrad na ochranu osobných údajov) (the “Office”)
Hraničná 12
820 07 Bratislava 27
Slovakia
The Office will represent Slovakia on the European Data Protection Board.
Notification or registration scheme and timing
There is no obligation to notify regulators of any processing under the GDPR. However, controllers and processors must keep a record of their processing and make it available to their supervisory authority on request (subject to limited exemptions).
There are no obligations to notify the Office of any processing under the Act.
Exemptions to notification
Not applicable.
What is the territorial scope of application?
The GDPR applies to the processing of personal data in the context of the establishment of a controller or processor in the EU.
It also contains express extra-territorial provisions and will apply to controllers or processors based outside the EU that: (i) offer goods or services to individuals in the EU; or (ii) monitor individuals within the EU. Controllers and processors caught by these provisions will need to appoint a representative in the EU, subject to certain limited exemptions.
The European Data Protection Board has issued Guidelines on the territorial scope of the GDPR (3/2018).
Is there a concept of a controller and processor?
Yes. The GDPR contains the concept of a controller, who determines the purpose and means of processing, and a processor, who just processes personal data on behalf of the controller.
The European Data Protection Board has issued Guidelines on the concepts of controller and processor in the GDPR (7/2020).
Both controllers and processors are subject to the rules in the GDPR, but the obligations placed on processors are more limited.
Are both manual and electronic records subject to data protection legislation?
Yes. The GDPR applies to both electronic records and structured hard copy records.
Are there any national derogations?
The GDPR does not apply to law enforcement activities which are instead subject to the Law Enforcement Directive. The GDPR also does not apply to areas of law that are outside the scope of Union law, such as national security, and does not apply to purely personal or household activity.
Under the Act, a controller may process personal data without a data subject’s consent, if the processing is necessary for the purposes of academic, artistic or literary expression, or if the processing is necessary for the purpose of informing the public by means of the mass media.
Under the Act, a data subject’s employer may provide or publish the personal data of an employee if it is required for the fulfilment of the job, service or administrative duties. This information includes the employee’s title, name, surname, job, service position, administrative position, personal/employee number of the data subject, department, place of work, telephone number, fax number, work e-mail address and identification data of the employer. Provision or publishing of personal data cannot violate the respect, dignity and safety of the data subject.
What is personal data?
Personal data is information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person.
This is a broad term and includes a wide range of information. The GDPR expressly states it includes online identifiers such as cookies.
Is information about legal entities personal data?
No. However, information about sole traders and partnerships is likely to be personal data.
What are the rules for processing personal data?
All processing of personal data must comply with all six general data quality principles. Personal data must be: (i) processed fairly, lawfully and transparently; (ii) collected for specific, explicit and legitimate purposes and not processed in a manner incompatible with those purposes; (iii) adequate, relevant and not excessive; (iv) accurate and, where necessary, up to date; (v) kept in an identifiable form for no longer than necessary; and (vi) kept secure.
The processing of personal data must also satisfy at least one condition for processing personal data. These conditions are that the processing is: (a) carried out with the data subject’s consent; (b) necessary for the performance of a contract with the data subject; (c) necessary for compliance with a legal obligation; (d) necessary in order to protect the vital interests of the data subject; (e) necessary for the public interest or in the exercise of official authority; or (f) necessary for the controller’s or a third party's legitimate interests, except where overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject.
These rules are almost identical to the core requirements for processing personal data in the old Data Protection Directive. The European Data Protection Board has issued Guidelines on the performance of a contract processing condition for online services (2/2019).
Are there any formalities to obtain consent to process personal data?
The requirements for consent under the GDPR are strict.
To be valid, consent must be in clear and plain language and, where sought in writing, separate from other matters. Consent must be based on affirmative action so pre-ticked boxes are not acceptable. Consent might not be valid if: (i) there is any detriment to the data subject for refusing; (ii) there is an imbalance of power; (iii) consent for multiple purposes is bundled together; or (iv) the consent is a condition of entering into a contract. Finally, consent can be withdrawn at any time.
In practice, other processing conditions should be relied on where possible. Consent will only be an appropriate processing condition if the individual has a genuine choice over the matter, for example, whether to be sent marketing materials.
The European Data Protection Board has issued Guidelines on consent (5/2020).
Are there any special rules when processing personal data about children?
Consent from a child in relation to online services will only be valid if authorised by a parent. A child is someone under 16 years old, though Member States may reduce this age to 13.
In Slovakia the age at which a child can provide a valid consent remains at 16 years old.
Are there any special rules when processing personal data about employees?
The GDPR allows Member States to implement more specific national rules governing the processing of personal data about employees. It may also be possible to process special category personal data where it is necessary for a legal obligation in the field of employment law.
Under the Act, a data subject’s employer may provide or publish the personal data of an employee if it is required for the fulfilment of the job, service or administrative duties. This information includes the employee’s title, name, surname, job, service position, administrative position, personal / employee number of the data subject, department, place of work, telephone number, fax number, work e-mail address and identification data of the employer.
What is sensitive personal data?
Special category data is personal data consisting of racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data, data concerning health or data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation. The decision in OT (C-184/20) might suggest this should be interpreted broadly to include publication of information that indirectly discloses these characteristics.
The inclusion of genetic and biometric data is new and an extension to the types of sensitive personal data in the Data Protection Directive.
Information about criminal offences is dealt with separately and is subject to even tighter controls.
Are there additional rules for processing sensitive personal data?
Special category data may only be processed if a condition for processing special category data is satisfied. A condition arises where the processing: (a) is carried out with the data subject’s explicit consent; (b) is necessary for a legal obligation in the fields of employment, social security and social protection law; (c) is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another person where the data subject is unable to give consent; (d) is carried out by a non-profit-seeking body and relates to members of that body or persons who have regular contact; (e) relates to data made public by the data subject; (f) is necessary for legal claims; (g) is for reasons of substantial public interest under EU or Member State law; (h) is necessary for healthcare reasons; (i) is necessary for public health reasons; or (j) is necessary for archiving, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes and is based on EU or Member State law.
Under the Act, it is possible to process sensitive personal data where there is a special act or international treaty which is binding on the Slovak Republic.
Are there additional rules for processing information about criminal offences?
It is only possible to process personal data relating to criminal convictions or offences if: (a) it is carried out under the control of official authority; or (b) when the processing is authorised by EU or Member State law providing for appropriate safeguards for the rights and freedoms of data subjects.
The Act does not set out any additional rules for processing information about criminal offences.
Are there any formalities to obtain consent to process sensitive personal data?
Consent to process sensitive personal data must be explicit. The general restrictions on consent, set out above, will also apply. This suggests a degree of formality, such as ticking a box containing the express words “I consent”. It is unlikely explicit consent could be obtained through a course of conduct.
When must a data protection officer be appointed?
Both controllers and processors must appoint a data protection officer if: (i) they are a public authority; (ii) their core activities consist of regular and systematic monitoring of data subjects on a large scale; or (iii) their core activities consist of processing special category personal data on a large scale (including processing information about criminal offences).
Data protection officers must also be appointed where required by national law. However, the Act does not impose any additional obligations to appoint a data protection officer.
What are the duties of the data protection officer?
The data protection officer must be involved in all data protection issues and cannot be dismissed or penalised for performing their role. The data protection officer must report directly to the highest level of management. Details of the data protection officer must be communicated to the relevant supervisory authority.
The Article 29 Working Party has issued Guidelines on Data Protection Officers (WP243).
Is there a general accountability obligation?
The GDPR adds a new general accountability obligation under which you must not only comply with these new rules, but also be able to demonstrate you comply with them. This means ensuring suitable policies are in place supported by audit and training.
Are privacy impact assessments mandatory?
A privacy impact assessment must be conducted where “high risk” processing is carried out. This includes: (a) systematic and extensive profiling that produces legal effects or significantly affects individuals; (b) processing on a large scale either special categories of personal data or personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences; and (c) systematic monitoring of a publicly accessible area on a large scale (e.g. CCTV). Where the assessment indicates the risk cannot be mitigated, the controller must consult the relevant supervisory authority.
The Article 29 Working Party has subsequently issued Guidelines on Data Protection Impact Assessments (WP 248). It suggests there are nine criteria to consider to determine whether to conduct a privacy impact assessment, and that an assessment should be made if two or more of those criteria are met. This is arguably wider than the criteria set out in the paragraph above.
The Decree provides certain rules in relation to how controllers should carry out the Data Protection Impact Assessment. The Office has the drawn up a list of processing operations which are subject to the requirement for a data protection impact assessment.
Privacy notices
A controllermust provide data subjects with a privacy notice setting out how the individual’s personal data will be processed. The privacy notice must contain the enhanced transparency information.
The Article 29 Working Party has issued Guidelines on Transparency (WP260).
Under the Act, there is no explicit obligation to provide this information in Slovak but given that such information is to be provided in a comprehensible form and should be formulated in clear and simple terms, then if it is supposed to be comprehensible for the data subject, it should be in a language the data subject speaks.
Rights to access information
Data subjects will have a right to access copies of their personal data by making a written request to the controller. The initial request is free, though a charge can be made for subsequent requests. Controllers can refuse the request if it is manifestly unfounded or excessive. The right to obtain a copy of personal data should not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others. The response must be provided within a month, though this can be extended by two months if the request is complex.
The European Data Protection Board has issued Guidelines on rights of access (1/2022).
Rights to data portability
Data subjects will also have a right to data portability where the condition for processing personal data is consent or the performance of a contract. It entitles individuals to obtain any personal data they have “provided” to the controller in a machine-readable format. Individuals can also ask for the data to be transferred directly from one controller to another. There is no right to charge fees for this service.
The Article 29 Working Party has issued Guidelines on data portability (WP242).
Right to be forgotten
A data subject can ask that their data be deleted in certain circumstances. However, those circumstances are relatively limited, for example where the processing is based on consent, that consent is withdrawn and there are no other grounds for processing. Even where the right does arise, there are range of exemptions, for example where there is a legal obligation to retain the data.
The European Data Protection Board has issued Guidelines on the criteria of the Right to be Forgotten in the search engines cases under the GDPR (part 1) (5/2019).
Objection to direct marketing
A data subject can object to their personal data being processed for direct marketing purposes at any time. This includes profiling to the extent related to direct marketing.
Other rights
The GDPR contains a range of other rights, including a right to have inaccurate data corrected. There is also a right to object to processing being carried out in the performance of a public task or under the legitimate interests condition.
Finally, there are controls on taking decisions based solely on automated decision making that produce legal effects or similarly significantly affects the data subject. The Article 29 Working Party has issued Guidelines on Automated Decision Making and Profiling (WP251).
Security requirements in order to protect personal data
The GDPR contains a general obligation to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data.
In addition, controllers and processors must ensure, where appropriate: (i) the pseudonymisation and encryption of personal data; (ii) the ability to ensure the ongoing confidentiality, integrity, availability and resilience of its information technology systems; (iii) the ability to restore the availability and access to personal data in a timely manner in the event of a physical or technical incident; and (iv) a process for regularly testing, assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of technical and organisational measures for ensuring the security of the processing.
Under the Act, controllers and processors shall refer to international norms and security standards when determining security measures.
Specific rules governing processing by third party agents (processors)
A controller must ensure that any processor it instructs will ensure adequate security for personal data and otherwise meet the requirements of the GDPR.
The controller must have written contracts with its processor containing the enhanced processor clauses.
Notice of breach laws
A personal data breach must be notified to the relevant supervisory authority unless it is unlikely to result in a risk to data subjects. The notification must, where feasible, be made within 72 hours. If the personal data breach is a high risk for data subjects, those data subjects must also be notified.
Specific notice of breach laws apply to the electronic communications sector under national laws implementing the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive and to operators of essential services and digital service providers under national laws implementing the Network and Information Systems Directive.
The European Data Protection Board has issued Guidelines on Personal Data Breach Notification (9/2022) and Examples regarding Personal Data Breach Notification (1/2021).
Restrictions on transfers to third countries
The GDPR contains a restriction on transborder dataflows. This restriction does not apply if the transfer is to a whitelisted country.
Transfers can be made: (i) pursuant to a set of Standard Contractual Clauses; (ii) pursuant to binding corporate rules; (iii) to an importer who has signed up to an approved code or obtained an approved certification; or (iv) where otherwise approved by the relevant supervisory authority. However, following the decision in Schrems II (C-311/18) any transfer made on this basis must be subject to a transfer impact assessment of the laws of the relevant third country and supplemented by supplementary protections where necessary.
The European Data Protection Board has issued Recommendation on European Essential Guarantees for surveillance measures (2/2020) and a Recommendation on measures that supplement transfer tools (1/2020) to help conduct this transfer impact assessment. The European Commission has also issued an FAQ on the new Standard Contractual Clauses.
Transfers are also possible if an individual derogation applies. These derogations allow a transfer if it: (i) is made with the data subject’s explicit consent; (ii) is necessary for the performance of a contract with, or in the interests of, the data subject; (iii) is necessary or legally required on important public interest grounds, or for legal claims; (iv) is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject; (v) is made from a public register; or (vi) is made under the so-called minor transfer exemption.
The European Data Protection Board has issued Guidelines on derogations applicable to international transfers (2/2018). Finally, the European Data Protection Board has issued Guidelines on the interplay between Article 3 and international transfers (2/2018) to help identify when a transfer takes place.
Notification and approval of national regulator (including notification of use of Standard Contractual Clauses)
In general, there is no need for prior approval from a supervisory authority. However, this depends on the justification for the transfer.
For example, there will be no obligation to get approval for the use of Standard Contractual Clauses (though it is possible some supervisory authorities may want to be notified of their use). In contrast, it will be necessary to get approval to rely on binding corporate rules, and the supervisory authority must be informed of transfers made using the minor transfers exemption.
Use of binding corporate rules
The GDPR places binding corporate rules on a statutory footing. It will be possible to obtain authorisation from one supervisory authority (subject to approval through the consistency mechanism) that will cover transfers from anywhere in the EU.
In Slovakia, the national approach to binding corporate rules is described in the guidelines issued by the Office. New guidelines reflecting the GDPR are not available yet.
Fines
The GDPR is intended to make data protection a boardroom issue. It introduces an antitrust-type sanction regime with fines of up to 4% of annual worldwide turnover or €20m, whichever is the greater. These fines apply to breaches of many of the provisions of the GDPR, including failure to comply with the six general data quality principles or carrying out processing without satisfying a condition for processing personal data.
A limited number of breaches fall into a lower tier and so are subject to fines of up to 2% of annual worldwide turnover or €10m, whichever is the greater. Failing to notify a personal data breach or failing to put an adequate contract in place with a processor fall into this lower tier.
Fines can only be imposed where there is an intentional or negligent infringement of the GDPR, see Deutsche Wohnen (C-807/21).
The EDPB has published Guidelines on the calculation of administrative fines(04/2022).
Imprisonment
Under the Slovak Criminal Code as amended (the “Slovak Criminal Code”), a person is liable to a term of imprisonment of up to one year if, without lawful authority, they communicate, make accessible or disclose: (i) personal data of another person obtained in connection with the execution of public administration or with the exercise of constitutional rights of a citizen; or (ii) personal data of another person obtained in connection with the execution of his own profession, employment or function, and thus breaches his own obligation prescribed by a generally binding legal regulation.
The offence set out above is punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment in certain circumstances where there are aggravating factors.
Compensation
Data subjects have a right to compensation in respect of material and non-material damage. This requires more than a mere infringement of the GDPR and there must be actual material or non-material damage, however there is no minimum threshold of seriousness before compensation is available, see Österreichische Post (C-300/21).
Other powers
Regulators will have a range of other powers and sanctions at their disposal. This includes investigative powers, such as the ability to demand information from controllers and processors, and to carry out audits. They will also have corrective powers enabling them to issue warnings or reprimands, to enforce an individual’s rights and to issue a temporary or permanent ban on processing.
Practice
Fines: Some of the most significant fines issued by the Office are set out below:
Other enforcement action: In Slovakia, there is no current enforcement practice in relation to the GDPR. However, the enforcement of the current law is instructive.
According to the most recent Annual Report on Data Protection issued by the Office for the year 2022, the Office initiated 231 personal data protection proceedings, of which 139 were initiated on the motion of the data subject, 44 on the motion of another person, 25 opened following an investigation and 23 opened by the Office on its own initiative.
In 2022 the Office imposed financial penalties in 52 cases, totalling €106,448.78. The average fine for 2022 was approximately €1,166. The lowest fine (€100) was imposed on a natural person in connection with the unauthorised processing of personal data by a camera installed on a house. The highest fine (€6,500) was imposed on the controller for breach of the transparency and data minimisation principles and inadequate processing of the data subject's request.
According to the statistics kept by General Prosecutors Office of the Slovak Republic, 11 offenders were prosecuted in 2022 in connection with the crime of unauthorised handling of personal data under the Slovak Criminal Code.
ePrivacy laws
The Act No. 452/2021 Coll. on Electronic Communications of 24 November 2021 (the “ New ECA”) implemented Article 13 of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive and the European Electronic Communications Code. Direct marketing is subject to Section 116 of the New ECA, which came into force on 1 November 2011.
The New ECA implemented the amendments to the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive.
Conditions for use of cookies
According to the New ECA, cookies may be used only if the user has given his consent based on clear and comprehensive information about the purpose of processing.
The New ECA provides an exception from the consent requirement for law enforcement authorities and other state authorities. The New ECA requires an opt-in consent (i.e. it is not possible to collect data about a user until he or she has given active consent). The consent has to be specific, informed, unambiguous and must be obtained before cookies are placed on the user’s browser. The only exception is where data is stored for the purposes of ensuring the functionality of a website.
Regulatory guidance on the use of cookies.
The Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services issued an official opinion on the issue of cookies which lays out the various requirements for user consent to comply with the legal requirements, here.
Conditions for direct marketing by e-mail to individual subscribers
Direct marketing by e-mail is authorised, subject to the subscriber’s prior consent. Consent already given can be withdrawn at any time.
Conditions for direct marketing by e-mail to corporate subscribers
Direct marketing by e-mail is authorised, subject to the subscriber’s prior consent. Consent already given can be withdrawn at any time.
Exemptions and other issues
The similar products and services exemption applies. The sending of e-mail for purposes of direct marketing that does not specify the identity of the sender or a valid address to which the recipient may send a request seeking termination of such communication is prohibited. The sender must also include the eCommerce information.
Conditions for direct marketing by telephone to individual subscribers (excludes automated calls)
Direct marketing by telephone is authorised, subject to the prior consent of the individual subscriber. Consent already given can be withdrawn at any time.
Conditions for direct marketing by telephone to corporate subscribers (excludes automated calls)
Direct marketing by telephone is authorised, subject to the prior consent of the corporate subscriber. Consent already given can be withdrawn at any time.
Exemptions and other issues
The similar products and services exemption applies. Any direct marketing telephone call must specify the identity of the sender and a valid address to which the recipient may send a request seeking termination of such communications. The sender must also include the eCommerce information.
The new ECA introduced an “opt-out” list, commonly referred to as the ‘Robinson’s list’, which requires marketers to verify whether an individual and their particular telephone number appears on the list prior to contacting them by telephone for the purpose of direct marketing. Direct marketing telephone calls cannot be made to individuals on the list.
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