Article 29 Working Party

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On February 3, 2015, European data protection regulators released the Cookie Sweep Combined Analysis Report analyzing how websites use cookies to collect data from European citizens and highlighting noncompliance with Article 5(3) of the EU’s ePrivacy Directive. Among other requirements, this directive mandates that website operators obtain users’ consent for the use of cookies or similar tracking technologies. Notably, the directive purports to reach beyond the borders of European Union to apply to any website directed to or collecting data from European citizens.

To compile data for the report, the EU’s Article 29 Data Protection Working Party conducted a sweep of 478 of the most frequently visited websites in the e-commerce, media, and public sectors in eight EU Member States. The sweep targeted websites in these sectors because they likely pose the greatest risk to data protection and privacy for European citizens. The cookie sweep consisted of two stages: (1) a statistical review of cookies used by the websites and their technical properties; and (2) an in-depth manual review of cookie information and consent mechanisms. The study recorded each website’s cookie notification method, the visibility and quality of cookie information provided, and the mechanism offered for users to express consent.

The Article 29 Working Party, which is composed of representatives of DPA’s from every European country, has recently rendered an opinion (http://ec.europa.eu/justice/data-protection/article-29/documentation/opinion-recommendation/files/2014/wp223_en.pdf ) on data privacy issues surrounding the development of the “Internet of Things” (IoT), which includes wearable computing, quantified self devices, and domotics. Although such data is generated by “things” or devices, it is considered personal data because it may enable the life pattern of a specific individual to be discerned. After identifying the major privacy issues raised by such devices, the Article 29 Working Party made a series of recommendations to IoT stakeholders.