Personal Data Usage In The EU

Gail Chiasson, North American Editor

At the The DailyDOOH Media Summit which took place May 17, 2016 during London Digital Signage Week, 160 audience members received 30 minute worth of free legal advice from the World’s largest law firm Dentons.

TDMS2016 - Nick GrahamNick Graham, Global Co-Chair of Dentons’ Privacy and Cyber Security Group (Chambers: Band 1) who specialises in data privacy, cyber security, data protection  governance, as well as freedom of information and who advises across all sectors including banking, retail, energy, manufacturing, banking, insurance, transport, technology and digital media, warned that the rules on privacy will soon become even more strict than they are now in the EU (where such rules are already more strict than in the US).

Graham noted the various cases that have involved privacy issues in recent months, including one involving Apple and the FBI and an alleged killer’s iPhone. Among the ‘hot topics’ in 2016 that are raising people’s consciousness, he said, are cyber security risks; privacy vs security; and the acceleration of global privacy laws. He mentioned that the City of London has already banned recycling bins that track mobile phones.

“There are some lessons to be learned from what has been going on,” said Graham.

  • Data controllers are legally responsible for privacy but technology vendors should ensure that products are privacy compliant, as well. New laws are going to make vendors responsible.”
  • “In terms of data collected that is ‘personal’, don’t assume that aggregated data is off risk.”
  • “Notices must be more granular.”

Graham noted that the new UK Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, has recently held a similar position in British Columbia, Canada – Denham’s investigations there have led to global changes in privacy on Facebook and her discussions with Google resulted in ‘improvements’ to its street view imaging service in Canada, Ed.

“It’s going to be more difficult, not less, for businesses in the EU,” said Graham, “In terms of using data, protection regulations are going to be stiffer, so be careful if you are doing something in the EU.”

Graham noted various fines that have gone as high in the UK as £80,000 for ‘nuisance’ marketing.

 


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