Category: Data Protection

“Googsoft!” – my shorthand for Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo! -  are clearly trying the patience of Europe’s Data Protection Commissioners. Earlier in the week, the Commissioners reported these companies to USA’s Federal Trade Commission and to the European Commission claiming that Googsoft!’s privacy practices are unacceptable. Clearly these letters are intended to have later regulatory effect (see references for URL). Yet the problem for Data Protection Commissioners is that the public have, without regard for their own privacy, lapped up

Today's speech from Nick Clegg, deputy Prime-Minister needs no elaboration from me. He said "This government will end the culture of spying on its citizens. It is outrageous that decent, law-abiding people are regularly treated as if they have something to hide". He continued "It has to stop". "1. So there will be no ID card scheme. 2. No national identity register, a halt to second generation biometric passports. 3. We won't hold your internet and email records when there is just no

I now am convinced that a new Directive allows Member States to introduce consent/opt-out requirements for ALL forms of electronic marketing including behavioural marketing. The only unanswered question is whether Member States offer this option to its citizens when they implement the required legislative changes by next May. However, the Directive also allows a continuation of a minimum privacy protection policy with respect to the use of electronic marketing by organisations. For example, the current position in the UK is

For some time, I have been advocating the creation of an explicit and unequivocal link between the Data Protection Act (DPA) and the Human Rights Act (HRA). I now think that this link already exists and that the Information Commissioner (ICO) should take up cases which involve the unlawful use or retention of personal data, where "lawfulness" is assessed in the context of compliance or non-compliance with the obligation to show respect for private and family life (Article 8(1) of the