[Dane MC] Experts are on alert. The vast majority of Poles do not yet have a reserved PESEL number

Currently more than 6.5 million PESEL numbers are reserved. As experts of the subject emphasize, little than 20% of adult Poles. A large part of society inactive does not have adequate cognition of the nature and legal implications of specified action. The anticipation of doing this occurred in late 2023, with legal consequences only starting on June 1, 2024. There were over 3.5 million objections at the time. Experts commenting on the above data praise the current number, but besides point to the request to proceed educational and information activities aimed at expanding citizens' awareness of their safety.

According to data provided by the Ministry of Digital Affairs, presently more than 6.5 million PESEL numbers are reserved (as at 1 July). Over 26.3 million adults have no reserved number and can carry out this at any time. According to the legal advisor of King Kaczorek-Mastej from SubiGo, we are talking about a comparatively fresh tool for protecting individual data and the financial safety of citizens. The fact that more than 6.5 million people have already benefited from this option can be seen as a promising start. However, looking comprehensively, it is inactive little than 20% of adult Poles.

– The current level of PESEL reservations should be analysed in the context of respective applicable factors. First of all, it is crucial that citizens are aware of the level of legal awareness of the available individual data protection instruments and the risks associated with the unauthorised usage of the PESEL number. Despite the information activities carried out, a large part of the public inactive does not have adequate cognition of the substance and the legal consequences of the objection to this issue – says Dr. Tomasz Lewandowski, lawyer and specialist in the protection of individual data from the Faculty of Psychology and Law in Poznań University of SWPS.

According to Iwona Baranska of the National Cybersecurity Institute (KICB), the number of reserved PESEL numbers is not surprising. It can be assumed that young people (i.e. 18-34 years old) are around 8 million, middle-aged (between 35 and 64 years old) are 16 million, and seniors (65 years old and older) are around 8 million. According to the expert, out of just over 6.5 million reserved numbers, the vast majority are those belonging to the young and the middle-aged. Seniors decide to do so if they have the support of younger people.

– The objection procedure, although envisaged as comparatively simple and accessible electronically, is seen as an additional administrative obligation, which may affect the decision to do so. Individual hazard assessment by citizens is besides important. Many people do not see a direct hazard of violating their identity, which reduces the motivation to usage the safeguard mechanism. In addition, a origin limiting the dynamics of reservations may be the deficiency of erstwhile negative experiences of one's own or people from the immediate surroundings," emphasises Dr. Tomasz Lewandowski.

The anticipation of reservation appeared in late 2023. However, the legal consequences of this only began to apply from 1 June 2024. And as of that day, over 3.5 million PESEL numbers were reserved. In Iwona Baranska's opinion, it's a amazingly tiny number. It could be expected to be at least twice as large, given the scope of the information campaign. News of the fresh tool has appeared in different places. As the expert adds, it may have seemed that many people were waiting for legal sanctions in this respect to reserve their number. In the meantime, it turned out that after 1 June 2024 only about 3 million numbers increased.

– The number of objections at 1 June 2024 should be assessed as being moderate, appropriate to the first phase of the functioning of this legal instrument. This consequence indicates a crucial social interest in the legal institution. However, it besides reveals the request to proceed education and information activities aimed at raising public awareness of the possibilities and consequences of the PESEL reservation. More than 3.5 million reservations are not limited, given that all fresh regulation takes time to be widely adopted in practice and to build public confidence, says SWPS expert.

In turn, the legal advisor of King Kaczorek-Mastej points out that the number of reservations increased by about 3 million in 13 months. This is simply a very dynamic growth, which shows above all the increase in public awareness. He may have been stimulated by respective factors. 1 of them is more and more media reports of identity thefts, credit frauds, or payment purchases for victims. In addition, information campaigns conducted by the Ministry of Digital Affairs and banks are being undertaken. The increasing popularity of mCitizen is besides important, which allows you to reserve the number with 1 click. As the expert from SubiGo emphasizes, although the increase during the year is impressive, it is not expected to keep specified a advanced pace in subsequent years. The most aware digital users have already made reservations.

– Without doubt, the reservation of the PESEL number is simply a immense benefit for the individual who has benefited from this option. This solution primarily prevents our identity from being utilized for fraud, specified as borrowing and lending. It besides protects against any work to our data, e.g. from beginning bank accounts or concluding installment contracts," says Iwona Barańska.

On the another hand, Dr. Tomasz Lewandowski points out possible inconveniences related to the subject of the PESEL number. It is essential to retreat the reservation against the planned conclusion of the agreement, the implementation of which requires confirmation of the absence of an active objection. This applies, for example, to lending. Failure to do so may consequence in refusal to carry out a transaction or to supply a service. For any people, it may be hard to usage ICT tools, e.g. mCitizen application and trusted profile. However, the expert stresses that this instrument strengthens citizens' legal protection against the consequences of crimes involving the unlawful usage of identity.

– The reservation of the PESEL number is actually a free safety lock, acting as a car alarm. It is better to usage it and to be calm, than later for months or even years to fight the consequences of identity theft, especially since the reservation takes only a minute and can be done remotely, through a trusted profile or app mCitizen – concludes legal counsel from SubiGo.

text and photograph source: MondayNews.pl