About: e-Privacy

German Presidency charts new COVID19 ‘metadata’ rules in leaked ePrivacy text

The German EU Council presidency is seeking to permit the processing of metadata in online communications for 'monitoring epidemics' or to help in 'natural or man-made disasters,' according to a leaked text on the ePrivacy regulation obtained by EURACTIV.

Smartphone vs virus, is privacy always going to be the loser?

In Europe, officials, doctors and engineers are looking at how smartphones could be enlisted in the war against the spread of the new coronavirus.

Commission to present revamped ePrivacy proposal

The European Commission will present a revised ePrivacy proposal as part of the forthcoming Croatian Presidency of the EU, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton announced on Tuesday (3 December), after previous talks failed to produce an agreement among member states.

Power sector ‘concerned’ about new EU data privacy rules

A proposed ePrivacy regulation currently under discussion at EU level would hurt new business models in the clean energy sector, which are “almost all” based on the collection and treatment of data by home equipment and smart meters, warns an industry coalition.

ePrivacy: Over-regulation or opportunity?

As debate over the draft ePrivacy Regulation resumes, it transpires that economic research from the ad tech lobby has grossly misled the European Parliament and the Council, writes Dr Johnny Ryan.

Industry groups amp up lobby campaign to topple ePrivacy bill

Dozens of industry associations have made a last-ditch effort to water down the draft ePrivacy legislation before national telecoms ministers gather to discuss the file next week in Luxembourg.

Commission demands EU leaders approve deadlocked ePrivacy bill

The European Commission is amping up pressure on EU leaders to approve a controversial privacy bill, deadlocked in legal talks for more than a year, after the data breach scandal involving Facebook and Cambridge Analytica.

German court rules Facebook use of personal data illegal

A German consumer rights group said on Monday (12 February) that a court had found Facebook's use of personal data to be illegal because the US social media platform did not adequately secure the informed consent of its users.

Lead MEP: member states’ slow pace on ePrivacy is unacceptable

Different political groups need to accept the European Parliament’s agreement on the draft ePrivacy regulation, even though conservative and centre-right MEPs opposed the bill, Birgit Sippel said in an interview with EURACTIV.com.

MEPs approve ePrivacy bill amid political fight

MEPs in the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) approved stricter new privacy rules for telecoms services and apps like WhatsApp and Skype that divided political groups and drew backlash from the telecoms and tech industries.

Death on Facebook: Lawyers push for EU rules on digital inheritance

A group of lawyers are pressuring EU legislators to propose rules that could force internet platforms to hand over data that belongs to another person who had died or is being cared for.

EU digital official: Cyber threats know no borders

Linda Cogruedo Steneberg, Director at the the European Commission's DG Connect , revealed how the EU executive is trying to extend broadband coverage and democratise the internet, as well as protecting our privacy as hacker attacks become more commonplace. EURACTIV Spain reports.

A call for innovation-friendly ePrivacy rules

The EU's draft ePrivacy regulation risks crippling innovative cloud computing services, writes Kim Gagné.

Member states ask for new EU data retention rules

Several EU member states want to include new rules allowing for data retention in a draft privacy bill.

Member states want looser data rules in draft ePrivacy bill

EU member states are divided over a proposal to change privacy rules for telecoms operators, with some countries calling for looser rules on when they can use consumers' personal data.

Europe’s digital union is stuck in Brussels

A draft EU telecoms law could cause major economic growth and create jobs, but there is a high risk it could be diluted by the Brussels compromise machine, write Steven Tas and Lise Fuhr.

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.

EU top court rules against bulk retention of emails

The European Union's top court ruled Wednesday (21 December) against the bulk retention of emails and other electronic data by EU member states, such as that under new British legislation.

WhatsApp and Skype targeted in Commission’s revamp of telecoms laws

Internet companies like WhatsApp and Skype are worried they'll have to comply with new EU telecoms laws for the first time when the European Commission proposes a legislative overhaul this September.

Europe should abandon its expensive internet cookies law

The European Commission should repeal its "cookies law" - it's expensive for online businesses and a burden for internet users, writes Alan McQuinn.

Parliament approves privacy rules after record number of amendments

MEPs approved new EU privacy rules today (14 April), including a regulation on consumer privacy that drew the aggressive ire of lobbyists during its four-year run through negotiations in the European Parliament.