monobank came under a barrage of inspections: the consequences of leaking photos of a girl with a flag
12 March 16:02
Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced an investigation into a possible violation of the law due to the actions of monobank co-founder Oleg Gorokhovsky, who acknowledged that the disclosure of a client’s personal data was unlawful.
Lubinec wrote about this on his Telegram page, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Monobank co-founder Oleg Gorokhovsky admitted his mistake after information about the disclosure of a bank customer’s personal information appeared in the media and on social networks.
However, as Lubinets emphasizes, admitting a mistake does not exempt one from responsibility for a possible violation of the law.
“I reacted to the situation immediately — proceedings were opened and an investigation was launched into the circumstances of a possible violation of the law on the protection of personal data and banking secrecy,” Lubinets said.
He stressed that personal data cannot be used as a tool for public pressure or humiliation, and that the law is the same for everyone, and violations cannot be justified by public outcry or emotions.
The results of the investigation and further steps will be announced after all the necessary information has been received from the bank and the relevant authorities.
A day earlier, the National Bank demanded an explanation for Oleg Gorokhovsky’s post, in which he shared a photo of a bank customer whom he accused of pro-Russian views.
“The National Bank, within the scope of its consumer protection and supervisory functions, is analyzing the circumstances of this situation and has sent a request to the bank for explanations regarding the circumstances of the dissemination of information that may have been obtained during customer identification or verification procedures and may constitute banking secrecy,” the regulator said.
They emphasized that they can only assess Gorokhovsky’s actions after receiving a response from the bank and verifying all the facts. Until then, they refuse to comment on the situation, as the information obtained during the supervisory activities is considered banking secrecy.
“If, during supervisory activities, the bank is found to have violated the requirements of the law or regulatory acts of the National Bank, the regulator may apply the measures of influence provided for by law to the bank,” the NBU said.
In particular, the National Bank noted that it would be able to apply the measures provided for in Resolution No. 346 to the bank.
What preceded
Monobank co-founder Oleg Gorokhovsky posted a photo of a bank user taken during video verification online. According to him, the Russian flag is visible in the background behind the girl.
The bank customer later stated that the flag on the wall was actually the Slovenian flag and criticized the publication of her photo without her consent.
On the evening of March 11, Gorokhovsky apologized for posting the photo of the bank customer and explained his actions as an emotional reaction to the Russian tricolor. In a post on Telegram, he wrote that after many years of war, this flag evokes strong anger in him, so he reacted hastily and without thinking.
Gorokhovsky also assured customers that their personal data remains secure.
