Study Reports Draft EU Data Protection Regulation Leaves Gaps In Protection When It Comes To Big Data, Internet Of Things And Smart Devices

A study published 22 September 2015 criticises the EU's development of its Digital Single Market ('DSM') strategy for being overly commercially and economically driven, with little attention to the key legal and social challenges regarding privacy and personal data protection. The development of the DSM should not be at the expense of individuals' privacy rights, say the authors. The study was commissioned by the European Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee.

The DSM strategy was unveiled earlier this year and is aimed at removing regulatory barriers so that digital services can operate seamlessly throughout the EU. However, despite promises made by the Commission and DSM Vice President to review the interplay between the e-Privacy Directive (2002/58/EC) and the DSM, the study finds that the strategy downplays the complexity of issues such as data anonymisation and minimisation in Big Data.