Protecting your contact details
In some situations, a person who fears for their safety may need to protect their contact details.
Non-disclosure of personal data
A lighter non-disclosure of personal data can be requested from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Everyone has the right to prohibit the disclosure of their personal data from the Population Information System for direct marketing, market and opinion research, as well as for personal directories and genealogical research.
In addition, everyone has the right to prohibit the disclosure of their contact details through contact, address or similar information services, as well as the disclosure of their data for updating customer registers or other similar registers. Prohibit the disclosure of your personal data at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency
Non-disclosure for personal safety
A stronger option is to request that the Digital and Population Data Services Agency orders that the threatened person’s home municipality or address details cannot be disclosed from the Population Information System to anyone other than authorities. This is called non-disclosure for personal safety. When considering applying for this measure, it is good to know that it may make everyday life more difficult, as address details will no longer be transmitted to official registers. For example, hospitals and health centres may not necessarily receive the patient’s address information. Apply for non-disclosure for personal safety at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency requires a written and justified request from the applicant or at least a visit to the agency. The order may be valid for up to five years the first time. It can be extended for two years at a time.
Non-disclosure for personal safety is a restriction in the Population Information System that strongly limits the disclosure of contact details. Information is not disclosed to private persons or companies, and authorities can access the information only if they have a specific official reason, such as a police criminal investigation.
Other things to consider
It is important to note that organisations that already had the person’s contact details earlier will not automatically know to remove them from their systems unless the person informs them. These may include, for example, telephone operators. Some organisations update their customers’ contact details automatically every few months, in which case the contact details of a person with a non-disclosure order will no longer be transmitted to the service provider.
A person who has been granted non-disclosure for personal safety may inform the Digital and Population Data Services Agency of a contact address to be entered into the Population Information System. The contact address may be, for example, a PO box, a workplace address or another similar address that does not reveal the person’s exact place of residence. The contact address may be disclosed to all parties that need it unless the person has registered prohibitions on disclosure that also apply to the contact address (direct marketing prohibition, prohibition of disclosure of contact details, prohibition of updating customer registers, prohibition concerning personal directories and genealogical research). The contact address can be changed during the validity of the non-disclosure order. When applying for an extension, the contact address must be submitted again.
If necessary, it is also advisable to hide your details in Traficom’s register. Traficom’s transport registers are generally public, but you can restrict the disclosure of your personal data.
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