About

 

  About the Workshop          About the Host Authority  

The Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia is the host authority of the “European Case Handling Workshop” - ECHW 2022. 

From November 17 to 19, the Workshop will take place in Tbilisi. The event will be participated by approximately 60 delegates from the data protection authorities of 26 countries. This year, the Workshop will address such significant topics as the stages of conducting inspections by data protection supervisory authorities; data protection in social media and domestic exceptions; international data transfers; personal data and artificial intelligence, etc.

“European Case Handling Workshop” is an annual international forum to share the best practices in the field of privacy and personal data protection through the participation of data protection supervisory authorities from different countries. The Workshop has been held since 1999 and originates from the Helsinki Spring Conference, where the European data protection supervisory authorities agreed to hold the meeting with the participation of the data protection practitioners. The purpose of the meeting is to compare the procedures for complaints handling and facilitate dealing with cross-border complaints. ECHW is a kind of continuation of the “European Conference of Data Protection Supervisory Authorities” (the so-called “Spring Conference”), with a different format, particularly in the form of a working forum. It establishes a discussion platform for contemplating relevant practical issues and analyzing the challenges related to handling the cases by the supervisory bodies, as well as discussing ways to solve them.

Within the framework of the Workshop, various topics concerning the enforcement of data protection legislation will be discussed, as well as international standards of handling the cases by data protection supervisory bodies. The Workshop aims at creating an opportunity for practitioners working in the field of data protection to share their experiences with a focus on the following issues:
• Topics on which the most complaints are received;
• Issues that the office is currently dealing with; and 
• Sectors that the office most often receives complaints about; or is likely to receive complaints about in the future.

The reception of the participants of the Workshop is scheduled for November 17. The upcoming two days of the event combine 6 primary panel sessions. During the first day, topics, as follows, will be discussed: Stages of inspection, precisely, planning of inspections by the data protection authorities; Decision-making process; Methodology and structure of decision; Execution of the decision. The second days of the Workshop will be dedicated to such emerging topics as data protection in social media and domestic exemptions; International data transfers; Personal data and artificial intelligence; Data breaches from data security aspects. 

More than 25 speakers representing the data protection authorities from 16 countries will share their experiences with the participants of the Workshop. Moreover, the representatives of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will also give a speech. At the end of the event, the representative of the Swiss data protection supervisory body, as the succeeding host authority, will introduce the participants to the concept of ECHW 2023.

 

The Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia is an independent state authority. Its activities are:


• Monitoring lawfulness of personal data processing;
• Monitoring covert investigative actions and activities performed within the central databank of electronic communications identification data.


Control over the legality of personal data processing in Georgia dates back to 2013. Conducted oversight of covert investigative actions has been carried out since 2015. These powers were exercised by the Office of the Personal Data Protection Inspector from 2013-2019, and from 2019 to 2022 by his legal successor, the State Inspector's Service.
From March 1, 2022, this mandate was given to the Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia.
» Who We Are?
The Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia is an institutionally independent, personal data protection supervisory authority. The main directions of its activities encompass control over the lawfulness of data processing and monitoring of the covert investigative actions and the activities carried out at the central databank of the electronic communication identification data in Georgia. The Service is accountable only to the Parliament of Georgia.
» Mission
The mission of the Personal Data Protection Service is to establish a culture of respect for private life, raise public awareness in society, and implement European standards for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In order to harmonize national legislation with international legal instruments and implement the best practice, the Service actively cooperates with foreign counterpart supervisory bodies, international organizations and strives to deepen relations with them.
» Values
The activity of the Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia is based on the following values and principles: lawfulness, respect for and protection of human rights and freedoms, independence and political neutrality, objectivity and impartiality, professionalism, maintenance of professional secrecy and confidentiality.

Workshop Venue

17th November: Official Welcome Reception – Tbilisi City Municipal Assembly

Venue: Tbilisi City Municipal Assembly (Tbilisi Sakrebulo);

Address: 2 Freedom Square, Tbilisi.

 

18th ─19th November: Workshop

Venue: Courtyard by Marriot Tbilisi;

Address: 4 Freedom Square, Tbilisi;

Tel.: +995 32-277 91 00.

Speakers

Nikoloz Popiashvili

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Liisa Ojangu

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Elif Ergün Tuncer

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Felicia Ungureanu

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Andrea Jeney

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Stéphane Kolanowski

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Dr. Giuliana Schreck

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Sebastian Kraenzle

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Neritan Sulaj

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Rigers Bodurri

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Kelly Ann Martinez

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Louise Busto

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Stephanie Mezler-Andelberg

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Stefanie Pitsch

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Amélie Deleuze

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Danny Koevoets

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Mandy Erkelens

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Inga Sazonova

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Ketija Žubure

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Barbara Šušić

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Mario Milner

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Marko Šijan

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Iva Katić

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Rumer Ramsey

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Michalina Nadolna Peeters

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Dr. Roberto Lattanzi

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Marcel Vogel

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Bradley Tosso

Moderator

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Ana Tokhadze

Moderator

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Davit Karashvili

Moderator

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European Case Handling Workshop 2022

DAY ONE: 17th November. Venue: Tbilisi City Municipal Assembly (Tbilisi Sakrebulo), Address: 2 Freedom Square, Tbilisi
19:00 – 21:00

Official Welcome Reception – Tbilisi City Municipal Assembly

DAY TWO: 18th November. Venue: Courtyard by Marriot Tbilisi, II Floor Ballroom; Address: 4 Freedom Square, Tbilisi
09:30 – 10:00

Welcome/Registration

10:00 – 10:15

Opening Remarks

Professor Dr. Dr. Lela Janashvili, President of Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia

Mikheil Sarjveladze, Chairperson of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, Parliament of Georgia

10:15 – 10:30

Overview of the Workshop

› Ana Tokhadze, Head of International Relations, Analytics and Strategic Development Department, Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia

10:30 – 11:30

Inspections: Session I - Planning of Inspections

Moderator

Ana Tokhadze, Head of International Relations, Analytics and Strategic Development Department, Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia

 

Speaker:

•    Planning of Inspection from the Perspective of Georgian DPA

Nikoloz Popiashvili,  Legal Adviser to the President of Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia

 

Speakers:

•    How to Deal with a Flood of Complaints?

Stefanie Pitsch, Coordinator for the Office for National Complaints/ Lawyer, Austrian Data Protection Authority

Stephanie Mezler-Andelberg, Lawyer, Austrian Data Protection Authority

 

Speakers:

•    When is an Inspection the Best Tool to Achieve the Goals Set by the DPA? 

Mandy Erkelens, Senior Inspector, Dutch Data Protection Authority

Danny Koevoets, Senior Inspector, Dutch Data Protection Authority

11:30 – 11:45

Q & A Session

11:45 – 12:15

Coffee Break

12:15– 13:15

Inspections: Session II - Decision-Making Process

Moderator:

Ana Tokhadze, Head of International Relations, Analytics and Strategic Development Department, Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia

 

Speakers:

•    Comprehensive Examination of Evidence Obtained by the Different Instruments Used for Inspection: Questionnaires, Interviews, and Other Supporting Documents Used for Inspection

Neritan Sulaj, Inspector, Sectorial Investigation and Data Security Department, General Directorate of Personal Data Protection, Information and Data Protection Commissioner of Albania
Rigers Bodurri, Inspector, Sectorial Investigation and Data Security Department of General Directorate of Personal Data Protection, Information and Data Protection Commissioner of Albania

 

Speaker:

•    A Comprehensive Examination of Evidence Obtained During an Inspection.

Amélie Deleuze, Legal Specialist of the Investigation Department (Economic Affairs), CNIL, France

13:15 – 13:30

Q & A Session

13:30 – 15:00

Lunch

15:00 – 16:00

Inspections: Session III - Methodology and Structure of Decision

Moderator:

Davit Karashvili, Head of Legal Department, Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia

Speaker:
  • The General Structure of the Board Decisions. 

Elif Ergün Tuncer, Personal Data Protection Expert, Personal Data Protection Authority of Türkiye

 

Speaker:

•    Methodology and Structure of a Supervisory Decision in the Estonian DPA

Liisa Ojangu, Legal Adviser,  Estonian Data Protection Inspectorate

 

Speaker:

•    The Experience of the Republic of Moldova on the Methodology of Examination of Complaints Regarding the Child as a Data Subject 

Felicia Ungureanu, Main State Controller, Conformity Department, National Center for Personal Data Protection of Moldova

16:00 – 16:15

Q & A Session

16:15 – 16:45

Coffee Break

16:45 – 17:45

Inspections: Session IV - Execution of Decision

Moderator:

Davit Karashvili, Head of Legal Department, Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia

Speakers:

•    Issues of Imposing an Administrative Penalty for Incompliance with Personal Data Protection Laws

Ketija Žubure, Legal Adviser, Supervisory Division, Data State Inspectorate of Latvia

Inga Sazonova, Legal Adviser, Supervisory Division, Data State Inspectorate of Latvia

 

Speakers:

•    Issues of Imposing an Administrative Penalty (Case Study)

Barbara Šušić, Senior Advisor, Department for Supervision, Investigations, Technologies and Security, Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency
Mario Milner, Senior Advisor, Specialist at Department for Supervision, Investigations, Technologies and Security, Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency
Marko Šijan, Senior Advisor, Specialist at Department for Supervision, Investigations, Technologies and Security, Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency
Iva Katić, Secretary of the Director's Cabinet, Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency

 

17:45 – 18:00

Wrap Up

19:00 – 22:30

Dinner ─ Tbilisi

Venue: Restaurant “Restaurant Ethnographer”, 105 Akaki Beliashvili Street, 0159 Tbilisi

DAY THREE: 19th November. Venue: Courtyard by Marriot Tbilisi, II Floor, Ballroom; Address: 4 Freedom Square, Tbilisi
09:30 – 10:00

Registration

10:00 – 11:00

Data Protection in Social Media and Domestic Exemption

Moderator:

Bradley Tosso, Director of Information Rights and Operations at the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority

Speakers:

•    Domestic Exemption and Aspects Surrounding its Application 

Kelly Ann Martinez, Information Rights Manager, Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
Louise Busto, Information Rights Manager, Gibraltar Regulatory Authority

 

Speakers:
  • Joint Controllership in the Use of Social Media Tools

Rumer Ramsey, Legal Officer, European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS)
Michalina Nadolna Peeters, Legal Officer, European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS)

 

Speaker:

•    The Use of Social Media in Humanitarian Action: A Data Protection Perspective 

Stéphane Kolanowski, Regional Data Protection Officer for Europe and Central Asia, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation to the European Union, NATO and the Kingdom of Belgium

11:00 – 11:15

Q & A Session

11:15 – 11:30

Coffee Break

11:30 – 12:30

Emerging Topics

Moderator:

Ana Tokhadze, Head of International Relations, Analytics and Strategic Development Department, Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia

Speakers:

•    Introduction to International Data Transfers, the Schrems II Ruling and Challenges in the Handling of Concrete Data Export Cases 

Dr. Giuliana Schreck, Legal Officer, Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, Germany
Sebastian Kraenzle, Legal Officer, Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, Germany

 

Speaker:

•    The Perspective and the Experience of the Italian DPA on AI Cases

Dr. Roberto Lattanzi, Head of the Artificial Intelligence Department, Garante Per La Protezione Dei Dati Personali, Italy

Speaker:
  • Data Breaches from Data Security Aspects 

Andrea Jeney, Data Protection Expert at the Department of Authorization and Data Breach Notification at the Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information

12:30 – 12:45

Q & A Session

12:45 – 13:45

Lunch

13:45 – 14:00

Next Host of ECHW 2023 

Speaker:

Marcel Vogel, Delegate International Affairs, Department for International Relations, Cantons Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner FDPIC 

14:00 – 14:15

Closing Remarks

Professor Dr. Dr. Lela Janashvili, President of Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia

15:00 – 19:00

Social-Cultural Event, Tour in Mtskheta City

19:00 – 22:00

Farewell Dinner – Mtskheta City

Venue:  Restaurant "Tsikvili in Mtskheta", Mtskheta  

Social Program

For introducing the history, landscape and attractions of Georgia, we designed a special social program. On the last day of the Workshop, we invite you to a visit to Mtskheta city, the ancient capital of Georgia and the 6th Century Monastery with a great view of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers.

Mtskheta Tour

For introducing the history, landscape and attractions of Georgia, we designed a special social program. On the last day of the Workshop, we invite you to a visit to Mtskheta city, the ancient capital of Georgia and the 6th Century Monastery with a great view of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers.

Mtskheta Tour
Date: Saturday, 19 November (Departure from the Workshop venue)
Time: 15:00 ─ 19:00
Distance from Tbilisi: 25km; 30 minutes (one way)
The average temperature in November: High – 17.0 (°C); Low – 5.0 (°C)

» Brief information:

Mtskheta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Historical monuments of Mtskheta are included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

Jvari Monastery is a sixth-century Georgian Orthodox monastery, located in the east of Mtskheta, at the mouth of the river Mtkvari and Aragvi, on the rocky mountain peak. Jvari is a rare case of an Early Medieval Georgian church that has survived to the present day almost unchanged. The monastery is an example of a harmonious connection with the natural environment, characteristic of medieval Georgian architecture. The Mtskheta church of Jvari is the first sample of a cross-shaped type church, it is a new thing in architecture. Other structures around the monastery (tower, fence) are much older. On the facades of the temple, you can see religious and historical persons, there are old inscriptions too.

Along with other historic structures of Mtskheta, the monastery was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.

Svetitskhovli Cathedral, a monument of Georgian architecture of the 11th century, is located in Mtskheta at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers. Svetitskhoveli is the largest historical building among those still preserved in Georgia. It was the religious center of Christian Georgia for centuries. The construction of the first temple (wooden building) is connected with the adoption of Christianity in the 30s of the 4th century, followed by the stone basilica church built in the 5th century. In the 11th century, the building of the old basilica was transformed into a cross-domed temple.

Svetitskhoveli is included in the list of world art treasures of UNESCO.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION | ACCOMMODATION

Wyndham Grand Tbilisi

Wyndham Web

3 Lado Gudiashvili Street,

Reservation requests including the code word “ECHW” should be sent to the email: Reservations@wyndhamgrandtbilisi.com 

IOTA Hotel Tbilisi - Iota Hotel

Iota Hotel

Reservation requests including the code word “ECHW-IOTA” should be sent to the email: reservations@iotahotels.com

Shota Rustaveli Boutique Hotel

https://shotahotels.com/

Reservation requests including the code word “Reservations PDPS” should be sent to the email: fo@shotahotels.com

Contact Information

(+995 32) 242 10 00
office@pdps.ge
2022echw@pdps.ge
7, N. Vachnadzest

Tbilisi, 0105, Georgia