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Questionnaire // Journalists’ access to databases: difficulties, costs and needs

07 December 2021
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În Moldova
The scarcity of data available online and the high costs to access information of public interest are among the most frequently cited difficulties that journalists face when using state-run databases, according to the responses of 19 journalists to a questionnaire of the Independent Journalism Center. Respondents also say that they would like to have unconditional access to data in the register of real estate and that of drivers.  
 
TOP DIFFICULTIES IN ACCESSING INFORMATION

Asked to list the top three difficulties faced by media outlets in accessing databases, the journalists cited the insufficiency of the information available and the fact that it is not updated (9 answers), as well as high access costs (7 mentions) and limited access to certain categories of data available online (4 mentions), for example, the lack of details about a company’s background.
 


 

The obligation to register as a personal data controller¹, bureaucracy and insufficiency of database search tools were also mentioned among difficulties. “We can find nothing about companies from Transnistria that are provisionally registered in Chisinau, nor can we get backgrounds of the companies based in various districts. For this, we have to go to those districts, although we noticed that the employees of the Public Services Agency see the data of companies on their computers,” one of the respondents complained.

HOW MUCH MONEY DO JOURNALISTS PAY TO FIND OUT THE NECESSARY INFORMATION?

Media outlets were also asked about the estimated monthly costs they incur to access available paid databases. Most often they mentioned amounts between 1,000 MDL and 2,000 MDL or more (5 mentions) and between 300 MDL and 500 MDL (5 mentions). Some representatives of media outlets replied that they do not know the respective expenses of their editorial offices. “I turn to colleagues who are subscribers when I need paid information, the editorial office does not pay,” one of the journalists said.


 

According to the questionnaire, most of the respondents mentioned that their editorial offices are subscribed to databases that can be accessed for payment (over 70%), most often the cadastre.

 

As for the obligation to register as personal data controllers in order to have the right to process information from paid platforms, the majority said they were against it (10 replies), calling this obligation “abusive”, and four were in favor of retaining it if the registration procedure were simpler. “I believe that this procedure will create difficulties in the work of journalists, as obtaining the status of personal data controller could be a too bureaucratic procedure and could leave the authorities another lever to create possible blockages in the activities of the media that may not be loyal to the power. Also, meeting the necessary conditions for registration as a personal data controller could be a difficult process for small media outlets or those facing financial problems,” a journalist said.

WHAT DATA SETS JOURNALISTS WANT ACCESS TO

Most of the respondents replied that they access databases every week, and many of them are not satisfied with the speed with which the information is updated (12 mentions). Seven journalists said they were satisfied.


 

The respondents also mentioned databases that are currently inaccessible, which they would like to become public or accessible for journalists. Most often, the cadastre database was mentioned, including the possibility to search for the necessary information by name, surname, personal ID number, and not only by address (10 mentions), and access to the registers of drivers and transports (8 answers). Respondents also mentioned the need to have access to the register of legal companies, including joint-stock companies (6 mentions), and access to company backgrounds (5 mentions).

Journalists’ proposals included access to tax data, border crossings, access to the original list of political party donors and the archive of court decisions.

¹ On 11 November 2021, the Parliament voted on the draft law no. 199, called digitization, which brings amendments to several regulatory acts, and one of the main amendments concerns cancellation of the obligation to register and authorize as a personal data controller.
 
Foto:ont.by