On January 10, 2017, the European Commission published a Proposal for a Regulation that if adopted would have significant and far-reaching implications for Internet-based services and technologies.
The proposal seeks to revise the current EU ePrivacy Directive. It creates strict new rules regarding confidentiality of electronic communications, including content and metadata. In addition, the proposal amends the current rules on the use of cookies and similar technologies, and direct marketing. The rules apply to EU and non-EU companies providing services in the EU, and are backed up by massive enforcement powers—fines of up to four percent of a company’s global turnover.
The proposal is the next major step in the EU’s review of its data protection legal framework and follows the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in April 2016. Companies should consider following the legislative process and assessing how the new rules may impact their business.
Click here to read our WSGR Alert that provides background information, highlights the top nine key points of the proposal, and offers an overview of the next steps.