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ARTICLE · 14 JUNE 2018

GDPR Implications For Blockchain And Distributed Ledger Technologies

Mayer Brown
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On 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union entered into force, accompanied by some uncertainties regarding its application.

European UnionPrivacy
Benjamin Beck
Benjamin Beck
Dr. Ulrich Worm
Dr. Ulrich Worm
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On 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union entered into force, accompanied by some uncertainties regarding its application. For example, some legal commentators believe there are "irreconcilable" differences between blockchain technologies and some of GDPR's core principles, raising doubts as to whether the technology can achieve widespread adoption under the new data protection regime. 

Blockchain technology rose to fame as the underpinning of the Bitcoin system, but there are a myriad of applications for it beyond transacting in cryptocurrencies, such as executing contracts and even authenticating fine art.

Nigel Houlden, head of technology policy at the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)—the body responsible for enforcing data protection and privacy regulations in the United Kingdom—stated that he has "nightmares" about the future relationship between blockchain and some of GDPR's core principles. One of the

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