Brussels, BE — Today, Access Now releases a report which finds critical flaws in the enforcement of the EU flagship data protection law.
Two years after the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect, official data show that Data Protection Authorities (DPAs), crippled by a lack of resources, tight budgets, and administrative hurdles, have not yet been able to enforce the GDPR adequately. Worse, some public authorities have grossly misused the GDPR to undermine other fundamental rights such as the right to free expression and freedom of the press.
Our report provides data, case studies, and analysis on how the GDPR has been enforced over the past two years. The GDPR’s first two years have been marked by crisis, whether internal, external, political, geopolitical, or administrative. Beyond enforcement challenges, our report explores how these crises have impacted the protection of personal data in the EU, taking a close look at both Brexit and the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Through this report, we raise the alarm to the EU institutions and Data Protection Authorities that it’s high time to act to enforce the GDPR and condemn its misuses,” said Estelle Massé, Senior Policy Analyst and Global Data Protection Lead at Access Now. “The European Union may have the best law in the world for the protection of personal data, but if it is not enforced, it risks being as useful as a chocolate teapot.”
Access Now has advocated for the adoption of the GDPR since it was first proposed by the EU Commission in 2011. Since then, we have worked for its passage and continue to be involved in its application in our role as permanent member of the European Commission Expert Group on the implementation of the GDPR.
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