In less than two weeks, Argentina experienced a series of significant personal data leaks. The first incident occurred in early April when a cybercriminal published over 115,000 stolen photos from Renaper. Two weeks later, almost 6 million images of Argentine driver’s licenses were stolen and distributed. Then, on a Thursday last week, another attacker published a database with 65 million records, also from Renaper. These leaks raised concerns about data protection and cybersecurity in the country.
As a response to these incidents, the Via Libre Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting citizens’ digital rights, presented a report demanding more responsibility from the State. Led by Beatriz Busaniche, the president of the foundation and an expert in privacy and information rights, the report featured specialists in three crucial areas related to personal data processing.
The report highlighted the risks associated with personal data leaks, such as identity fraud and unauthorized access to sensitive information. It also pointed out underlying issues related to state responsibility and the legal framework in Argentina. Questions about who can be held accountable for data breaches and how individuals can seek redress for damages were raised in the report.
The presentation focused on the need for better data management practices within the State, including revisiting identification policies, setting limits on data collection, and updating legislation related to data protection. Speakers at the event discussed the historical context of data collection in the country, the challenges of data transfer between state agencies, and the legal frameworks that could improve transparency in case of security incidents.
The presentations emphasized the importance of updating laws and regulations to address the evolving landscape of data protection and cybersecurity. They also highlighted the necessity of enhancing security measures within government systems to prevent future data breaches. The full presentation provided valuable insights into the current challenges facing data protection in Argentina and the urgent need for reforms to safeguard citizens’ digital rights.