Personal data protection, case I OSK 1208/10
July 11th, 2011, Tomasz RychlickiKatarzyna S. had a website where she published information on breeding dogs. There was also another forum with such information. Grzegorz W. was a dog breeder and he noticed that his personal data and information on his breeding appeared on this websites. Some users posted also negative comments. Grzegorz W. requested the Inspector General for Personal Data Protection (GIODO) to issue an administrative decision ordering the removal of his personal data and all threads and posts connected with his name. He also requested the GIODO to check whether Katarzyna S. as a controller has registered the collection of personal data that was gathered during the operation of her website and the forum.
GIODO learned that the forum website was administered by another person who claimed that the questioned website had nothing to do with her ​​professional activity, it was only a hobby. She never received any paid advertising, nor any funds from anyone. Moreover, she informed that the forum was removed from the net for several months. GIODO discontinued the proceedings. GIODO ruled that Katarzyna S. was not involved in the processing of personal data as a part of her business or professional activity. Jerzy W. filed a complaint against this decision.
The Voivodeship Administrative Court in its judgment of 14 April 2010 case file II SA/Wa 2130/09 ruled that dogs breeding may be directed to gain profits, because it can be associated with the sale of dogs. The Court decided that GIODO should reconsider the case. GIODO filed a cassation complaint.
The Supreme Administrative Court in its judgment of 28 June 2011 case file I OSK 1208/10 overturned the questioned judgment and sent the case back for reconsideration. The SAC ordered the VAC to examine whether the processing of personal data on the internet website had something to do with breeding activities.