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The alarm went off with founder Ottar Zahl Jonassen when letter after letter appeared, informing him that Innovation Norway had verified how solvent he and his two companies are.
Jonassen is involved in the development of hotel projects in Vadsø and has never had a client relationship with the state bank.
Finally, the businessman decided to report Innovation Norway to the police for serious corruption. In such cases, the Data Inspectorate may impose a fine.
The Data Inspectorate has now decided to fine Innovation Norway NOK 1 million.
– A credit assessment has been carried out on an individual and his sole property without there being a legal basis to do so, says Senior Advisor to the NRK Data Inspectorate Ida Småge Breidablikk.
Innovation Norway has agreed that they did not have a treatment basis for the four credit assessments.
The credit evaluations were carried out over a period of 3 months.
Ottar Zahl Jonassen does not want to comment on the case today, but has previously said that he highly appreciates the police investigating his unauthorized credit assessments.
Photograph: Knut-Sverre Horn / NRK
– Experienced offense
Information that comes up in a credit assessment is considered vulnerable, according to the Norwegian Data Protection Authority.
Credit information about a sole proprietorship is also personal information, as the owner is directly identified with the business and this is directly related to the owner’s personal finances.
This means that one must have a basis of treatment for the credit rating of sole proprietorships. Something that Innovation Norway did not have in this case.
– Credit information on sole proprietorships also says something about the owner’s personal finances. It is private information that other companies cannot collect unless it is objectively justified, says Småge Breidablikk.
– We understand that complaints react when you have been rated for credit four times, and that this is perceived as offensive. We take these cases seriously and generally react with infraction fines to these types of crimes, says Breidablikk.
Ottar Zahl Jonassen received ten of those letters, about a credit check from him and his companies. Innovation Norway says that credit checks are not authorized.
One of those involved fired
Håkon Haugli, CEO of Innovation Norway, says they are prepared to comply with the final decision of the Data Inspection.
– There is no doubt that we have left the framework to which our business is subject. I regret and would emphasize that we have taken this very seriously from the moment we found out, says Haugli.
In addition, the director assures that they have implemented a series of measures so that something similar does not happen again.
– We introduced new training plans, guidelines and routines. Our internal auditor carried out a comprehensive review of the use of credit checks at Innovation Norway. In addition, we have followed up on the previous case of the employees involved, says Haugli.
An employee has been fired as a result of the case.
– I’d like to apologize to Ottar Zahl Jonassen again. This is the end of a long process, so it is good for us to end it, he says.
Håkon Haugli, CEO of Innovation Norway, says they will accept what will be the final decision of the Data Inspectorate.
Photo: Heidi Widerøe
Credit verified ten times
It is also part of the case that Ottar Zahl Jonassen’s limited partnership has received a credit rating six times. However, these credit assessments are not covered by the privacy regulations and therefore the Data Inspectorate cannot sanction this.
– The treatment that Innovation Norway gave me and the suspicion they defended this spring became very stressful. I am very happy that Innovation Norway has taken action internally and today I have a good and professional relationship with the company, says Zahl Jonassen.
– I also think it is reassuring that the Data Inspectorate has reacted very strictly to the practice at Innovation Norway.
Zahl Jonassen says he now wants to devote his time and energy to his own projects at his company, which works for growth and development in the Varanger region.
Innovation Norway has a January 25 deadline to submit comments on the notification.
