The Belgian Data Protection Authority (DPA) has advised the federal government against using data mining in the banking account registry as part of efforts to combat tax fraud, according to a report by L’Echo on Wednesday.
The De Wever government aims to fully utilise the information in the National Bank of Belgium’s Central Contact Point (CCP), which records all bank account balances and insurance contracts of Belgians. Through a proposed programme law, the government plans not only to include balances of foreign accounts, individual securities accounts, and crypto accounts in this database but also to expand its usage capabilities.
A team of data miners, appointed by the finance minister, could use these data for anonymous analyses. If these examinations indicate increased risks in specific cases, an official could then launch an investigation, which would reveal the identity of the individuals involved.
In its assessment, the DPA strongly criticises the project, stating that "the complete integration of CCP data into the Ministry of Finance data warehouse for data mining and matching represents a particularly serious interference with the rights and freedoms of those affected." It also highlights potential risks to taxpayer safeguards.
