The media giant RTL Croatia, known for its wide range of news and entertainment programming and as a leading broadcaster in the region, has appointed Tijana Žunić Marić, partner at Zunic Law, as its Data Representative in Serbia as of November 2024.
The appointment of a Data Representative is of essential importance, particularly given that the processing of personal data can significantly impact fundamental human rights. Although the obligation to appoint a Data Representative was established at the European level some time ago, many companies have faced challenges in implementing Article 27 of the GDPR. This initiative introduces concrete measures to safeguard the privacy rights of individuals to whom the data pertains.
If you are unsure whether your company is required to appoint a representative in Serbia, we recommend our blog on this topic, Does Your Company Need to Appoint a Representative in Serbia?
As we have previously written, there is an important distinction between the role of a Data Representative in Serbia and the European Data Protection Officer (DPO), even though they share similar responsibilities. You can find more details about the differences between these roles in our blog post Data Protection Officer vs Country Representative for Serbia.
Unfortunately, data controllers and processors with global operations often overlook Serbia as part of the European regulatory framework, thereby neglecting obligations that protect the rights of Serbian citizens. This oversight can result in negative consequences, including fines and reputational risks. Accordingly, it subject with the obligation to appoint a Data Representative for Serbia should take steps to comply with the law, ensuring that Serbian citizens can fully exercise their data protection rights.
We are pleased that more companies and individuals recognize the importance of this area. Tijana Žunić Marić has long distinguished herself as the most awarded data protection lawyer in Serbia, recognized by the internationally respected Who’s Who Legal and Lexology platforms.
In addition to RTL Croatia, Tijana has been appointed as a Data Protection Representative in Serbia for other major companies, including Bloomberg Adria, eSky, and as Data Protection Officer for Lesnina S, Wemedoo AG, Genial Science, among others.
