(NL Times) Outgoing Minister of Social Affairs Karien van Gennip has sent letters to 12 people apologizing for unlawfully using their personal data in an investigation into Salafist Islam and radicalization, she said in a letter addressed to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament. It was discovered last autumn that her ministry had covertly investigated mosques and Muslims without their knowledge.
People could find out whether their personal data was a part of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (SZW) investigation by requesting access to their files. The initial 131 access requests showed that 12 cases involved the unlawful use of personal data “without the applicant being aware of this and without permission being granted from the person involved.” There are currently 48 access requests that are still being evaluated.
