The Danish police have instructed law enforcement agencies across the country to withhold information about the ethnicity of suspects and criminals from the public unless it has “specific significance for the case.” This policy was emphasized following a public apology from the East Jutland Police (Østjyllands Politi) for sharing such details in a recent group rape case.
The directive originates from the National Police (Rigspolitiet) and is justified on the grounds of compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In a communication shared with the Danish media outlet B.T., the National Police asserted that disclosing ethnicity without relevance to the case violates GDPR regulations, which are centered on the protection of personal data.
However, experts have challenged the National Police’s interpretation of GDPR, arguing that ethnicity, when anonymized, does not identify an individual and thus should not be classified under the rules governing personal data. Legal professor Sten Schaumburg-Müller stated that GDPR only governs identifiable personal information and that ethnicity alone cannot reveal a specific person. Similarly, Professor Jan Trzaskowski from Aalborg University concurred, emphasizing that sharing such information does not conflict with GDPR as long as the individual’s identity remains undisclosed.
The National Police has not yet responded to the experts’ criticisms. B.T. is also seeking a statement from Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard regarding the matter. The situation highlights a controversial practice in managing information release to the public, which many believe could impact the transparency of police operations.