Visions of digital growth in Europe are currently dimmed by a European Commission initiative: the so-called ePrivacy Regulation. Initially intended as a complementary guideline to clarify the General Data Protection Regulation’s privacy rules for personal electronic communications data, the regulation as discussed today goes far beyond the provisions of the GDPR and creates further barriers to the processing of personal data. While it lacks clarity in decisive areas, the scope of its validity is now so broad that virtually every European company would be affected by it.
“The current proposal would have serious - and presumably unintentional – consequences for the European economy as a whole and hinder the development of European digital companies,” says Professor Friedbert Pflueger, Chairman of the IE.F. “We therefore call for a revision of the regulation in order to establish a fair balance between data protection and data processing guided by the principle of data sovereignty.”
The new policy paper examines the economic context, presents many real-world case studies, and demonstrates what could befall Europe’s ability to develop new and innovative products and services that compete on the global market. We hope that the paper will serve as a helpful addition to the current debate and make a meaningful contribution to Europe’s digital future.
Three points for effective data protection and fair competitive conditions:
- Maintain flexibility regarding data processing
- Keep digital services independent of browsers
- Allow transitional periods for the implementation of new rules
The policy paper is now available for download:
