In the second plenary meeting of the year, which took place on 12–14 June in Ghent, Belgium – BEREC launched four new consultations to develop guidelines across a range of topics. Other significant developments included the adoption of a document on the response to the European Commission for the review of the Recommendation on Relevant Markets.
EU Council at a standstill over Digital Taxation and e-Privacy
On 4 December 2018, ministers of EU member states gathered in the respective groups of the European Council, to discuss two proposals on a Digital Service Tax and on the e-Privacy regulation. On both issues, EU countries are still clearly divided, and are failing to make significant progress.
FT-ETNO 2018 saw a lamenting of Europe’s regulatory environment
The FT-ETNO 2018 summit gathered policymakers, regulators, industry executives and investors from Europe and beyond to discuss and debate the current regulatory challenges facing the industry. While the narrative has now become familiar among this particular set of stakeholders, the ferocity of the messages delivered was perhaps different.
Tech companies face greater scrutiny under EU Consumer Protection rules
The EC Commissioner for Justice, Vera Jourova, has made statements welcoming Airbnb’s effort to comply with EU consumer protection rules, particularly on the front of price transparency and recognition of users’ rights. Jourova also took the chance to criticise Facebook and Twitter, which are yet to implement some changes requested by the EC earlier this year.
An assessment of the new European Electronic Communications Code
Early in the morning on the 6th of June 2018, it was announced that the EU had finally reached a long-overdue agreement on the new Electronic Communications Code, which will replace the existing regulatory framework of the EU telecoms market. A full text of the draft was only released early in July.
Two weeks into GDPR: How do tech companies’ new privacy policies compare?
GDPR has been in place two weeks now, much to the relief of the many individuals who were swarmed with emails requiring fresh consent to the receipt of newsletters and other marketing messages. Leading up to the 25th May, customers have also been notified of the changes to the privacy policies most tech companies inevitably had to make. Assembly has studied how they compare, with particular regard to the validity of GDPR’s safeguards outside the EU, and to the legal bases adopted for treatment of personal data.
Discontent around the new European Electronic Communications Code is no good thing
On 6 June 2018, the EU announced a political agreement on the long-awaited European Electronic Communications Code. Stakeholders across the board are unhappy; however, the favourable treatment of wholesale-only networks could solve some long-standing problems facing wholesale access regulation over the last 20 years.
GDPR is almost here, but it will not change the world in a day
The most talked about day of the last two years is almost upon us. The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force tomorrow, promising much stronger rights and safeguards for users’ personal data. For now, the main effect it has had has been, paradoxically, to irritate the very people it is supposed to protect, due to the deluge of emails we have all received from companies seeking fresh consent.
Are DPAs ready for the consistent approach required by GDPR?
Among the significant changes it will bring about, the GDPR includes detailed rules for Data Protection Authorities to adopt consistent approaches and interact more regularly and effectively with one another. To this end, the newly founded European Data Protection Board will play a key role in overseeing the consistency mechanism created by GDPR. Assembly’s research shows there are still striking differences in funding and staff across DPAs.
How are European data protection authorities approaching GDPR?
The entry into force of GDPR is now imminent. Assembly’s Privacy and Data Protection Tracker has analysed and compared the approach taken by Data Protection Authorities in various countries, to prepare businesses for the new regulation. Differences in approaches across countries remain, although the pan-European nature of GDPR means companies can find useful insight in the activity of all DPAs across the EU.
