Nominees of the GDPR Success Story Awarded on the Occasion of Data Protection Day
The State Data Protection Inspectorate (SDPI), celebrating International Data Protection Day, invited Lithuania’s data protection community to the conference Privacy in the Digital Environment – Challenges and Opportunities and the GDPR Success Story awards.
Conference
Minister of Justice Rimantas Mockus, in his welcoming remarks, underscored the importance of maintaining a human-centred approach, stating that protecting data ultimately means protecting people. The Minister expressed gratitude to the SDPI Director Dijana Šinkūnienė for spearheading this initiative and for highlighting the significance of privacy in the digital landscape – an issue that affects everyone.
Addressing Lithuania’s data protection community, the SDPI Director Dijana Šinkūnienė acknowledged the inspiring collaboration and meaningful cooperation within the sector. She encouraged continued joint efforts to tackle the challenges posed by digital technologies, educate the public, raise awareness, and foster trust in the digital space.
The conference and discussions centred on the digitally connected yet increasingly concerned individual, exploring whether privacy can still be safeguarded, whether people can retain control over rapidly evolving technologies, and whether existing legal measures are sufficient to balance technological advancement with privacy protection. Speakers unanimously agreed that in addressing these challenges, the priority should not be regulations and rules alone but rather the individual and the practical implementation of fundamental human rights. Thus, the primary focus should be on people and the development of critical thinking.
Awards
The GDPR Success Story personal data protection awards are being held for the second consecutive year. The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Justice.
The competition is open to anyone committed to personal data and privacy protection – those who have encountered and successfully navigated challenges in GDPR compliance and who strive for the transparent implementation of the right to personal data protection.
It is gratifying that this year, more success stories were submitted than last year. We hope this valuable and meaningful initiative will continue to thrive, encouraging more individuals committed to data security to share their best practices.
A special commission established by the SDPI evaluated the best stories and selected the nominees.
The GDPR Success Story awards were presented to:
INGA DAUPARAITĖ – Senior Adviser to the Director of the National Courts Administration and Data Protection Officer for Lithuanian Courts, for her active, professional, and positive approach to personal data protection and the role of the Data Protection Officer.
TATJANA LUKOŠEVIČIENĖ – President of the Lithuanian Association of Data Protection Officers, for her outstanding contribution to the field of data protection in Lithuania in 2024, leadership in developing a culture of personal data protection, and expert perspective both in Lithuania and beyond.
NERINGA VILIŪNAITĖ – Lawyer and data protection enthusiast, for the DAP Advises initiative, which promotes awareness and competence in the field of the GDPR, public education, and the dissemination of information.
Dr MONIKA ŽALNIERIŪTĖ – Senior Researcher at the Law Institute of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, for her contribution to researching human rights in the context of personal data protection and privacy, particularly in relation to facial recognition technologies and the search for new regulatory approaches.
DATA PROTECTION LEGAL UNIT OF THE STATE ENTERPRISE CENTRE OF REGISTERS – for the effective and engaging promotion of a data protection culture within the organisation and a systematic approach to implementing various data protection and privacy-related measures.
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND LABOUR – for effective and responsible management of personal data security breaches, support for subordinate institutions in the field of personal data protection, and leadership that exceeded expectations.
On the occasion of Data Protection Day, commendations for exemplary performance of official duties were awarded to seven employees of the SDPI and the Office of the Inspector of Journalistic Ethics.
We extend our appreciation to all participants in the event and competition, as well as to those who contribute daily to the protection of privacy and the transparent processing of personal data.
ABOUT DATA PROTECTION DAY
International Data Protection Day was first observed in 2007 on the initiative of the Council of Europe, marking the anniversary of the signing of Convention ETS No. 108 on the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data on 28 January 1981.
The initiative aims to raise awareness among European citizens about data protection issues and to inform them of their rights and responsibilities.
Today, European Data Protection Day is recognised worldwide and is known as Privacy Day outside Europe.
Undoubtedly, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force on 25 May 2018, remains one of the most significant legislative acts for individuals and legal entities across the European Union, serving as the foundation for regulating personal data processing throughout the European Economic Area.
(Dainius Labutis photo)
