Lawmakers criticised police’s traffic camera fine payment platform yesterday, raising concerns over privacy violations and its legal basis during a parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee meeting.
The dispute centres around police’s recent call for citizens to check and pay approximately 250,000 outstanding traffic camera fines through an online platform.
The Data Protection Commissioner has identified vulnerabilities in how personal data is protected on the private company’s website.
Law Office and police officials defended the initiative, arguing the process announced last week is lawful and that checking for outstanding fines does not constitute official notification.
The discussion grew heated when MPs questioned the police’s approach, which was approved by the Law Office.
AKEL MP Aristos Damianou called it “a global novelty” that citizens must check if they have been reported for violations, while DISY MP Fotini Tsiridou questioned how citizens could be considered notified without legislative changes.
Police traffic chief Haris Evripidou explained the backlog stems from outdated address databases and citizens avoiding registered mail collection.
He revealed some postal workers had even advised citizens to avoid collecting letters containing camera fines.
The Data Protection Commissioner has recommended additional security measures, including a third unique identifier or one-time passwords, to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive information.
Police indicated they are working to implement access through the government’s CYLOGIN service.
The committee will continue discussions next Wednesday after only two of fifteen invited stakeholders were able to speak at yesterday’s session.
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