The Norwegian Data Protection Authority, Datatilsynet, has issued its opinion as part of a consultation on a proposed bill aimed at facilitating information sharing to prevent certain forms of crime.

The bill, developed by a group of experts, aims to improve inter-institutional collaboration for the prevention of juvenile crime, domestic violence, and violent extremism. While acknowledging the objectives of the project, Datatilsynet emphasizes that it significantly expands the possibilities for information sharing compared to current legislation, leading to major consequences for data protection. The authority considers that the sharing conditions, which are too discretionary and based on broad purposes, risk leading to inappropriate information sharing. It therefore recommends clearer regulation and differentiation of rules according to types of crime.

The authority also expresses concerns about information sharing with the police and the Police Security Service (PST), fearing that the distinction between prevention and investigation may not be robust enough to preserve the safeguards of criminal procedure. More broadly, Datatilsynet worries about the cumulative effect of multiple similar bills, which could restrict freedom of expression and weaken public trust in the protection of confidential data.