Tech

Telecoms firms and internet services like WhatsApp face tougher new privacy rules

Telecoms providers will face fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover if they’re caught breaking new EU privacy rules that will also hit firms processing vast amounts of machine data in the internet of things.

Andrus Ansip with EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova [right] [European Commission]

Catherine Stupp Euractiv 10-01-2017 16:35 5 min. read Content type: Euractiv is part of the Trust Project
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Positions

Monique Goyens, director general of The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC): "Online communication services such as Skype and WhatsApp are replacing SMS and regular phone calls at lightning speed. Consumers’ privacy should not be less protected when using these services. They should be able to rest assured that their phone calls, e-mails or messages are for their eyes and ears only, irrespective of the service they use. This reform is the opportunity to confront the widespread problem of online tracking. Consumers must have an alternative to being under 24/7 commercial surveillance when using digital services."

Lise Fuhr, director general of the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO): “There is no European data economy without an innovation-oriented Regulation. Telcos should be able to innovate and provide more choice to European customers”.

German Green MEP Jan Philipp Albrecht (rapporteur on the general data protection regulation): "Including modern communication methods such as Skype and WhatsApp under data protection rules for electronic communication is a long overdue reform that reflects the way many people communicate today. However, the rules around tracking user activity are completely back to front. Service providers should require the explicit consent of users if they want to track their activity; under these proposals, they would be able to assume consent unless the user says otherwise."

Updated: 29-09-2024

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