In a recent ruling from a Rīga city court, a former director of the Latvian Data State Inspectorate, who is also a certified data protection specialist, has lost a legal case against multiple Latvian media outlets. The case centered around his claim for moral damages after the media reported on his constitutional appeal regarding the system of penalty points for drivers. The media outlets utilized official information provided by the Constitutional Court and mentioned in publications like 'Latvijas Vēstnesis' to cover the story, which the plaintiff found damaging to his reputation.

The controversy dates back to a 2018 decision by the Constitutional Court, which addressed the legality of public access to information about accumulated penalty points for vehicle operators. Following a request from the legal expert in the field of data protection, the court ruled in 2021 that such publicly accessible information regarding an individual's penalty points does not comply with the Constitution. This ruling reflects an ongoing debate in Latvia concerning privacy rights versus public access to information, particularly in cases that might affect individual reputations.

The implications of this ruling could have broader consequences for how media outlets report on matters related to personal data and privacy. As the legal landscape continues to evolve in Latvia, decisions such as this one illustrate the delicate balance between freedom of information and personal privacy rights, showcasing the challenges faced by both regulators and media organizations in navigating this complex arena.