The General Retailers and Traders Union (GRTU) has formally drawn the attention of the Data Protection Commissioner to the union's concern on Malta Public Transport Operations Ltd having access to the National ID card database and the Driving License Database.

The union said (in its 'newstring') that the company, owned by Autobuses de Leon, is being allowed a form of access to the databases when an individual applies for the tallinja card. "This process is undertaken when an individual is applying online for a 'tallinja' card, upon consenting, to these national databases". 

The GRTU said that this could imply that the website has been granted authorisation to acquire such data, "something which other competing and/or non-competing businesses are not privy to".

The GRTU said it was informed by the Data Protection Commissioner's Office that the go-ahead was given to Transport Malta, "which was the public authority that requested this, and that the private company in question is only acting on behalf of the authority".

"It has also been explained that a set of procedures have been set in place to, as much as possible, ensure that such data is not mishandled or abused of in any way".

The union said it was told that this procedure was approved due to its nature and on a case-by-case scenario.

It was described as a necessity due to public transport efficiency being a national interest matter, and to ensure government policy implementation, the union explained.

The need to dispose of all data upon termination of engagement is one of the conditions in place, the GRTU was told, and that end-user consent is required before being granted access to said data

Regardless, the GRTU said it will follow up the matter and formally raise its concerns with the authorities for fair competition.

"Despite the assurances given upon the data protection concerns, GRTU still considers this access to data as highly valuable and to which any such direct or indirect competitors cannot have similar access to. There may be other transport companies competing for the same possible clientele, such as for instance, chauffeur-driven cabs or minivan service, which may be interested in advertising targeted services to specific segments of society or to design similar bundle offers to their clients, but who may not have this similar allowance to access personal data from national databases even if consent is given".

The union states that private interests and commercial activity exist despite the fact that the sector of operation is described as national interest.

"GRTU shall continue to insist that the principles of fairness and equal access to opportunity are safeguarded".