Friðhelgisleiðbeiningar

Friðhelgisleiðbeiningar is an Icelandic term formed from friðhelgi (protection or immunity) and leiðbeiningar (guidelines). It denotes a set of guidelines intended to safeguard sensitive information and individual rights in contexts involving security, law enforcement, or governmental operations. The phrase appears in policy discussions and academic writing to describe how security measures should be conducted without undermining fundamental rights. The exact scope can vary between documents.

Usage and scope: Friðhelgisleiðbeiningar are typically issued by ministries, agencies, or bodies responsible for security, justice, or information governance. They address how agencies collect, store, process, and share information, how surveillance or monitoring is conducted, and under what legal authorizations. They also often cover accountability, transparency, and mechanisms for redress.

Relation to law: In Iceland, friðhelgisleiðbeiningar are expected to conform to privacy and data-protection laws, including national legislation and the GDPR as applied in the European Economic Area. They may outline procedures to protect civil liberties during security operations, including proportionality, necessity, minimization, and oversight, as well as retention and deletion practices. Independent oversight bodies, such as the data protection authority, may review compliance with these guidelines.

Example topics include data minimization, access controls, encryption, audit trails, impact assessments, third-party sharing, and whistleblower protections. They also prescribe training and awareness for staff handling sensitive information.