On August 13, 2024, the Data State Inspectorate (DVI) published a guide on the use of student surveys in educational institutions, emphasizing the importance of understanding when these surveys constitute personal data processing under data protection regulations. The DVI explained that if survey responses can identify individual students, such data is considered personal data and is subject to data protection rules. In addition, the DVI outlined different scenarios in which student surveys may or may not involve personal data and stressed the importance of protecting this data, especially in cases where students might inadvertently share private information. The DVI advised teachers and educational institutions to ensure that the questions are age-appropriate and do not elicit unnecessary personal information.

Furthermore, the DVI clarified that surveys directly related to the learning process can be conducted on the legal basis of public interest without parental consent, while surveys that are indirectly related and gather more personal or family-related information require parental approval. Moreover, the DVI encouraged educators to communicate effectively with parents about the purpose of surveys and the handling of collected data and highlighted the role of data protection specialists in overseeing these processes.

You can read the press release, only available in Latvian, here.