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EU tech companies use dark patterns to discourage users to exercise privacy rights, the Norwegian Consumer Council says

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
On June 27, 2018, the Norwegian Consumer Councils (Forbrukerrådet) published an analysis of the users’ privacy settings of three of the largest digital services providers (Facebook, Google and Windows). The document questions whether the popups used by the three companies have design, symbols and wording that is in accordance with the principles of data protection by default and data protection by design, and if users’ consent given under these circumstances can be said to be explicit, informed Read more [...]

Another step toward an EU online market place without discrimination based on customers’ location: Regulation (EU) 2018/302

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
On March 22, 2018, the new EU rules against unjustified geo-blocking (Regulation (EU) 2018/302) entered into force and will be applicable starting December 3, 2018. The Regulation aims at abolish discrimination based on nationality and residence. Sellers will have to stop denying access to websites from one Member States to the other, preventing purchases of residents of another Member State or asking to pay with a debit or credit card from a certain country. EU citizens should finally Read more [...]

Privacy complaint in Italy shall be field according to GDPR; local rules surpassed

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
On May 31, 2018, the Garante per la Protezione dei Dati Personali, Italy’s Data Protection Authority (DPA) issued a decision explaining that until a legislative decree that harmonizes domestic law with the GDPR will come into force, the current complaint procedure shall be considered incompatible with the Regulations. The DPA refers to Article 77, GDPR, conferring data subjects the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. The DPA made available a page instructing on how Read more [...]

BUREAU OF ECONOMICS ANALYSIS (BEA)’S BE-12 SURVEY ON FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE U.S.

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
The five year timeline for the benchmark survey of the Bureau of Economics Analysis (BEA) – https://www.bea.gov/- on foreign direct investment in the United States just passed. The BE-12 is a comprehensive survey on financial and operating data of U.S. affiliates of foreign multinational enterprises. The survey is used to produce statistics on the scale and effects of foreign-owned business activities in the United States. Who needed file the benchmark survey. Each U.S. affiliate, i.e., for Read more [...]

EPrivacy Regulation? Acknowledgment by the EU Council that further work needs to be done in next presidency

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
At the beginning of June the EU Council discussed its position on the ePrivacy Regulation to update privacy rules for electronic communications. It appears like no real progress was registered at the Council meeting and that further work is needed under the next presidency (June to December 2018). The ePrivacy Regulation aims at ensuring a high level of protection of private life, communications and personal data in the electronic communications sector, to create a “level playing field for providers Read more [...]