Israeli Privacy Authority Warns Political Parties of Up to Five Years Imprisonment for Illegally Sharing Voter Data

Gilad Samama, head of Israel's Privacy Protection Authority, issued a stern warning to political parties regarding the enforcement of a decision by Central Elections Committee Chair Judge Noam Solberg. The ruling, issued on August 4, prohibits the transfer of any information about an individual's presence at polling stations or their voting activity, deeming such acts a violation of privacy rights. This ban applies even if the information is used to encourage voter turnout or manage party election operations.

Samama emphasized that the prohibition extends beyond the political parties themselves to include operators of dedicated applications processing personal data and any other individuals or entities involved in collecting, transferring, or processing this information. Violations of this rule could trigger enforcement actions, including significant financial penalties and criminal proceedings.

The Privacy Protection Authority clarified that breaching Section 2(9) of the Privacy Protection Law constitutes both a civil tort and a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison. Furthermore, the unauthorized transfer, storage, or use of data about a person's voting could lead to additional privacy law violations. Parties found holding or using such data obtained from polling station representatives against Judge Solberg's decision risk facing financial sanctions as well.

This warning underscores the legal risks political parties face if they fail to comply with privacy protections during elections, reinforcing the authority's commitment to safeguarding voter confidentiality and data privacy in Israel's democratic process.