According to reporting by Follow the Money, the police have been storing citizens' personal data, such as names, addresses, and even pet information, for years without ever deleting it. Although the law requires that this data be destroyed after a period of time, the police refuse to do so. In view of possible cold cases, the police are deliberately acting in violation of the rules, according to internal documents requested by Follow the Money.
From recent investigation by Follow the Money reveals that the Dutch police have been knowingly violating the Police Data Act (Wpg) for years. This law requires the police to destroy collected data on citizens after a certain period of time, to ensure privacy and prevent abuse. However, Woo documents show that this data has not been destroyed since 2018. At the time, police management decided not to erase data, fearing it would hinder investigations into unsolved cases, such as cold cases. Then-Minister Grapperhaus gave his approval to this decision.
According to Follow the Money's reporting, the result of this policy is that the data of millions of Dutch citizens, including trivial information such as details about pets, is kept endlessly. This raises concerns among privacy experts, who warn of the danger of mass surveillance. The Personal Data Authority has since asked the police force management for clarification in response to these revelations.
Despite warnings about potential risks, such as outdated and unreliable data and the danger of misuse, the spokesman states in the article that the police are sticking with this policy until the law is revised. The police want a change in the law that would extend the retention period from 10 to 75 years. The longer period should help solve cold cases.
