Brussels, BELGIUM — The European Commission today released its proposal for a Regulation “concerning the respect for private life and the protection of personal data in electronic communications”, better known as the “ePrivacy Regulation”. The new rules seek to cover a variety of online applications from those that provide communications and messaging services services to personalised advertising and Internet of Things. The existing ePrivacy Directive, which is being reviewed, covered the communications sector only.
The following can be attributed to CCIA Vice President, James Waterworth:
“The European Commission has ambitions to boost the data economy in the EU, stimulating innovation around data, while providing coherent privacy safeguards. Unfortunately this proposal risks incoherence and confusion with the General Data Protection Regulation requiring one approach to safeguarding privacy and ePrivacy another.”
“Today’s proposal applies to all services that have a communications element meaning dating apps, video game services, travel and ecommerce sites, dramatically enlarging the range of services covered. This new broad scope makes it even more important that ePrivacy is truly compatible with the General Data Protection Regulation.”
“This proposal will need work to ensure it delivers on the promise of strong and clear protections, instead of coming at the cost of free, innovative online services.”