[{"description":"New data from the Federal Trade Commission reveal that people reported losing a staggering $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, with reported losses increasing nearly three times since 2020. FTC data also show that people reported imposter scams more than any other fraud category in 2025—nearly one in three fraud reports were about imposter scams. These scams lured consumers through text, phone, email, social media, search engine results and other means. Some of the costliest impersonation scams start with a fake security alert, often from a bank. People are convinced to move money to “protect” it, with their losses often limited only by their available funds. Last year, people reported losing nearly $1 billion to business impersonators with the highest reported losses to bank impersonators—and about $920 million to government impersonators, up from $866 million and $789 million respectively in 2024. The FTC has seen a striking increase in reported fraud losses to all types of fraud—about $16 billion was reported lost in 2025, the highest on record and an increase of about 25% compared to the 2024 figure. “Consumers derive enormous benefits from competitive markets built on truthful information. But fraud undermines that foundation, impeding the market process and preventing markets from operating efficiently,” said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC will use every tool available to combat one of the most pernicious forms of fraud—government and business impersonation—and to protect the integrity of the digital economy.” The data underscore the importance of the FTC’s work with the  Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC) , which is working to help raise awareness of imposter scams and other scams impacting older adults as well as other consumers. This year, the FTC, along with the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services and members of the EJCC, is leading the Never Ever campaign, a public-private coordinated consumer education effort to raise awareness of government and business imposter scams. In addition to the federal agency members of the EJCC , the campaign also includes private sector representatives such as the American Bankers Association, USTelecom, Google and Microsoft. To help the public spot imposter scams, EJCC members launched the Never Ever campaign, which is aimed at promoting messaging on the key actions that government and businesses will Never Ever take. The Never Ever campaign will run from June 15 to June 26, in conjunction with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This first-of-its-kind public-private partnership includes participants from a wide range of organizations and is aimed at directing consumers to a website that includes information and resources to help them avoid imposter scams and what to do if they spot one. Enforcement Actions To help combat impersonation scams, the FTC in 2024 finalized the Impersonation Rule. The Rule gives the agency stronger tools to combat and deter scammers who impersonate government agencies and businesses, enabling the FTC to file federal court cases seeking to get money back to injured consumers and civil penalties against rule violators. Since then, the FTC has vigorously enforced the rule and brought a dozen enforcement actions that have resulted in halting imposter schemes and obtained over $70 million in redress for consumers. In 2025, the FTC brought law enforcement actions under the Impersonation Rule against:  American Tax Service (IRS imposter scheme);  MediaAlpha (government imposter scheme to sell health insurance);  Click Profit (business imposter money making scam);  Blackstone Legal (phantom debt business imposter scheme) and  Accelerated Debt Settlement (government and business imposter scheme that targeted older adults for debt relief). More recently, the  FTC filed a complaint against Innovative Partners in April 2026 , alleging the operators","titre":"FTC Data Show People Reported Losing $3.5 Billion to Imposter Scams in 2025","pubDate":"Tue, 16 Jun 2026 08:09:40 +0200","id":2959787,"source":"Federal Trade Commission - Protecting America's Consumers","url":"https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/06/ftc-data-show-people-reported-losing-3-point-5-billion-imposter-scams-2025"},{"url":"https://www.arcom.fr/en/find-out-more/legal-area/legal-resources/arcoms-notice-may-6-2026-accompanying-publication-model-agreements-provided-article-l333-10-french-sports-code","source":"Arcom Textes juridiques","pubDate":"Fri, 22 May 2026 14:08:22 +0200","id":2900811,"titre":"Arcom's notice of May 6, 2026 accompanying the publication of model agreements provided for in article L333-10 of the French Sports Code.","description":"The French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication, Having regard to the French intellectual property code , in particular article L. 331-12 ; Having regard to the French Sports Code , in particular article L.333-10 ; After due deliberation, Adopts the following notice: The year 2025 marked a turning point in the fight against sports broadcasting piracy, with increased involvement of various types of intermediaries, under the impetus of sports rights holders, as part of the dynamic injunctions issued under article L. 333-10 of the French Sports Code . In addition to the legal actions involving Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which have been fully integrated into the scheme since 2022, and in order to strengthen the effectiveness of the blocking measures implemented, rights holders have extended their legal actions, from 2023, to search engine operators, who play a key role as central players in the diffusion of information on the internet and in directing users to sports-related contdnt. Search engine operators are now almost systematically involved in actions taken by rights holders to protect sports competitions. Between 2024 and 2025, the number of delisting measures ordered by the courts and the number of measures notified by Arcom in application of the orders issued has dubbed. In response to the misuse by some Internet users of domain name resolution services or virtual private networks (VPNs), rights holders then extended the scope of players taken to court to prevent access to services dedicated to the unlawful broadcasting of sports competitions. More than 5,000 blocking demands were notified to alternative DNS in 2025. As for virtual private network service providers, they were the subject of the first court verdicts, handed down on the basis of article L. 333-10 of the French Sports Code , in May 2025, and as such are receiving a growing number of blocking demands to update the measures ordered by the judge. Against this backdrop, strengthening cooperation between rights holders of sports-related content and the various intermediaries mentioned in the court orders would therefore appear to be desirable in order to give an even greater impact to the fight agains sports piracy. The parties are also invited to continue their exchanges with Arcom with a view to optimizing the provision of identification data and ensuring the simultaneous application of delisting and blocking measures by all technical intermediaries involved in preventing access to unlawful services. Article L. 331-12 of the French intellectual property code makes provision for the adoption of notices by the Authority for the protection and promotion of creation, with the aim of encouraging the signing of voluntary agreements likely to help remedy infringements of copyright and neighbor rights, or of the audiovisual exploitation rights mentioned in article L. 333-10 of the French Sports Code, on electronic communications networks used for the provision of online public communication services. In addition, under the terms of IV of article L. 333-10 of the French Sports Code, Arcom is responsible for adopting model agreements which the rights holders mentioned in I of the same article are invited to sign. The agreement concluded between the parties specifies, in particular, the measures that the parties undertake to take to put an end to any infringement of the exclusive audiovisual exploitation rights of the sports event or competition. The Autorité recommends that the rights holders mentioned in I of article L. 333-10 of the French Sports Code, on the one hand, and any intermediaries implementing measures ordered on the basis of II of article L. 333-10 of the same code, on the other (notably search engine operators, domain name resolution services and virtual private network providers), enter into discussions with a view to concluding agreements that would reflect their joint commitment to fight agains the unlawful diffusion of sports-related events and competitions as effectively as possible. To this end, Arcom is"},{"source":"EDPB News","url":"https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2026/edpb-brings-clarity-data-processing-scientific-research-speeds-finalisation_en","description":"Brussels, 16 April – During its latest plenary, the EDPB has adopted Guidelines on processing of personal data for scientific research purposes . In addition, the Board has created a team to speed up the finalisation of the guidelines on anonymisation. The EDPB has also adopted two opinions on the two sets of the Europrivacy certification criteria for approval as European Data Protection Seals, one of which to be used as a tool for transfers. Many areas of scientific research rely on the processing of individuals’ personal data, and this has driven significant scientific breakthroughs that benefit society. The rise of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, also contributes to scientific progress by enabling researchers to use and analyse data in innovative ways. The main objective of the EDPB guidelines on scientific research is to provide more clarity for researchers and make GDPR compliance easier , while ensuring the protection of individuals’ fundamental rights . “Scientific research can drive societal progress and improve our daily lives.  Our guidelines facilitate innovative research by helping researchers to navigate the GDPR. The EDPB is committed to supporting the scientific community and unlocking the full potential of scientific research in the EU while upholding data protection rights.\" EDPB Chair, Anu Talus In its guidelines, the Board provides clarifications on the concept of ‘scientific research’ . To determine if the processing takes place for scientific research purposes in the meaning of the GDPR, the Board provides six key-indicative factors that should be considered, in addition to the nature, scope, context and purposes of processing. These are: 1) methodical and systematic approach, 2) adherence to ethical standard, 3) verifiability and transparency, 4) autonomy and independence, 5) objectives of the research, and 6) potential to contribute to existing scientific knowledge or apply existing knowledge in novel ways. If the research activities meet these six factors, they can be presumed to constitute scientific research. Otherwise, the controller should justify and be able to demonstrate why the activities should be considered scientific research, within the meaning of the GDPR. Further processing for scientific research purposes is presumed to be compatible with the initial purpose for collecting individuals’ personal data. Therefore, controllers are not obliged to do the purpose compatibility test under the GDPR to determine if the new processing is compatible with the original purpose of collection. However, controllers must still make sure that the legal basis of the initial processing is also suitable for the further processing of personal data for scientific research purposes. Controllers can rely on “broad consent” where the purposes of research are not fully known at the time of collecting the personal data. In this case, researchers should respect ethical standards for scientific research and put additional safeguards in place to compensate for the lack of purpose specification. Controllers can also ask individuals to consent to different individual research projects separately, as soon as the purposes of those projects become known (dynamic consent). A combination of both broad and dynamic consent is also possible. In addition, the EDPB clarifies rights of individuals when their personal data are processed for scientific purposes. This includes the rights to erasure and object for which limitations may apply when personal data are processed for scientific research purposes. The Board provides examples to explain when the right to erasure can be considered likely to render impossible or seriously impair the objective of conducting scientific research. The EDPB also explains when controllers may reject an individuals’ objection to the processing of their personal data for scientific research purposes. This can be the case when processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of","titre":"EDPB brings clarity to data processing for scientific research, speeds up the finalisation of the anonymisation guidelines and approves first European data protection seal as a tool for transfers","id":2829942,"pubDate":"Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:15:11 +0200"},{"description":"Brussels, 23 March - On 17 March 2026, the EDPB conference “Cross-regulatory interplay and cooperation in the EU: a data protection perspective” took place in Brussels. The event showcased high-level discussions, featuring contributions from representatives of key EU institutions, European Data Protection Authorities, academia and industry.  Key takeaways from the panel discussions Throughout the day, three panels were held, focusing on 1) data protection and competition , 2) the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the GDPR , and 3) the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the GDPR .  During the first panel , speakers emphasised the critical need for cooperation between regulatory bodies in the fields of data protection and competition and shared views on what regulators in the two fields can learn from each other, especially in the aftermath of the Bundeskartellamt ruling. A speaker emphasized that regulators should align their approaches and recognize synergies between the two fields, such as protecting consumers and data subjects. Others pointed out that fixing harm to end users does not always solve competition issues, and that data protection should be considered in competition analysis only when relevant, on a case-by-case basis. Panellists also highlighted the need to cooperate not just on individual cases, but on broader concepts and legal principles.  In this context, the EDPB has recently agreed to develop joint guidelines with the European Commission to address the interplay between competition law and data protection. The discussions in the second panel centred on the joint guidelines on the DMA and the GDPR , which were developed by the European Commission and the EDPB and recently underwent public consultation. The joint guidelines are an unprecedented work and a good example of regulatory cooperation paving the way for further examples ahead, in line with the  EDPB Strategy 2024-2027 and  Helsinki Statement ’s objectives to strengthen cross-regulatory cooperation. A crucial goal of the guidelines is the development of a coherent and compatible interpretation of the DMA and the GDPR while respecting the regulatory competences. It was emphasised that these guidelines help break silos, strengthen consistency, and provide further clarity and legal certainty. All of this contributes to easier compliance, which is valued by stakeholders and increases trust. At the same time, certain speakers suggested improvements to the final version of the guidelines, bearing in mind the DMA should not be given primacy over the GDPR and that the measures companies have to comply with should be proportionate.  Other examples of cooperation in this domain were also mentioned, such as the participation in the High Level Group for the Digital Markets Act and specific instances of cooperation on concrete cases.  The last panel of the day explored how the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the GDPR interact. Panellists provided the example of the protection of minors: age   verification should be effective yet fully in line with data protection legislation.  They highlighted the growing need for strong coordination between the two frameworks, including the role of the European Board for Digital Services and other ways for the Commission and the EDPB to work together. A speaker also underlined the challenges and ongoing work on cross-regulatory cooperation from the perspective of a national authority. Another speaker urged regulators to work on building a fully coherent interpretation of the two frameworks and more globally of the digital legislation. Panellists also stressed that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are reshaping online ecosystems and, as a result, the role of the DSA and the GDPR.  The panel concluded with a clear message: online safety under the DSA and the lawful processing of personal data are two sides of the same coin, both calling for the DSA and the GDPR to be read coherently.  Highlights from the keynote speeches The event also","pubDate":"Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:08:47 +0100","id":2780286,"titre":"EDPB conference on cross-regulatory cooperation: what we learned","url":"https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2026/edpb-conference-cross-regulatory-cooperation-what-we-learned_en","source":"EDPB News"},{"source":"EDPB News","url":"https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2026/cef-2026-edpb-launches-coordinated-enforcement-action-transparency-and-information_en","description":"Brussels, 19 March - The EDPB has launched its Coordinated Enforcement Framework (CEF) action for 2026*. Following a year-long coordinated action on the right to erasure in 2025 , the CEF's focus this year will shift to compliance with the obligations of transparency and information under the GDPR . The GDPR ensures that individuals are informed when their data is being processed (under Art. 12, 13 and 14). This right to be informed is a core element of transparency and ensures that individuals have more control over their data. Next steps During 2026, 25 Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) across Europe will take part in this initiative. They will look closely to assess the compliance of controllers with their transparency obligations under the GDPR. Participating DPAs will soon contact controllers from different sectors across Europe, either through enforcement actions or fact-finding exercises. In the latter case, they might also decide to undertake additional follow-up actions if needed. During the second half of the year, participating DPAs will share and discuss their findings together, with a view to aggregate the results of their national actions and generate deeper insight into the topic. A consolidated report will then be drafted and submitted for adoption by the EDPB, allowing for targeted follow-ups on both national and EU levels. Background The CEF is a key action of the EDPB under its 2024-2027 Strategy , aimed at streamlining enforcement and cooperation among DPAs. In 2023, the EDPB published the report on its first coordinated action on the use of cloud-based services by the public sector . In 2024, the EDPB also published the report on the outcome of the second coordinated action on the designation and position of Data Protection Officers . In 2025, the EDPB issued the report on its third coordination action on the implementation of the right of access . In 2026, the EDPB has adopted a report on its Coordinated Enforcement Framework (CEF) action on the right to be forgotten (Art.17 GDPR) .   Note to editors: *The Board selected this topic during its October 2025 plenary","titre":"CEF 2026: EDPB launches coordinated enforcement action on transparency and information obligations under the GDPR","id":2769535,"pubDate":"Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:12:59 +0100"},{"source":"EDPB News","url":"https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2026/edpb-identifies-challenges-hindering-full-implementation-right-erasure_en","description":"Brussels, 18 February - The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has adopted a  report on its Coordinated Enforcement Framework (CEF) action on the right to be forgotten (Art.17 GDPR) .  The  Board selected this topic  as it is one of the most frequently exercised GDPR rights and one about which DPAs frequently receive complaints from individuals. The main objectives of this coordinated action are to ensure that the right to erasure is effectively exercised by individuals in Europe and understand how controllers comply with this right in practice. In addition, the EDPB identified good practices and the most important related challenges, with the aim of providing further guidance on this topic.  Throughout 2025, 32 DPAs across Europe took part in this initiative. More specifically, 9 DPAs have initiated new formal investigations or have continued ongoing ones, and 23 DPAs carried out a fact-finding exercise. A total of 764 controllers across Europe responded to the action, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to big companies active in many different industries and fields, as well as various types of public entities. The results of these national actions have been aggregated and analysed together allowing for targeted follow-up on both national and EU level.   Areas of improvement and main challenges The report lists the issues that were identified, along with a series of recommendations addressed to controllers, to help them implement the right to erasure. Seven recurring main challenges were identified by DPAs. The results confirmed some of the findings of the 2024 coordinated action on the right of access , for example when it comes to the lack of appropriate internal procedures to handle requests, or the lack of sufficient information provided to individuals. In addition, participating DPAs reported specific findings related to the reliance by some controllers on inefficient anonymisation techniques to handle erasure requests as an alternative to deletion. DPAs also noted inconsistent practices, and the difficulties faced by controllers regarding the determination of retention periods and the deletion of personal data in the context of back-ups. In addition, as the right to erasure is not an absolute right, some controllers face difficulties in assessing and applying the conditions for the exercise of this right, including in carrying out the different balancing tests between the right to erasure and other rights and freedoms.   Follow-up to help organisations comply  Extensive guidance, documents and templates exist at national level to help controllers comply with the right of erasure and help individuals exercise this right. In line with the Helsinki Statement’s objectives of making GDPR compliance easier and ensuring consistent interpretation and enforcement across Europe, the extensive guidance and templates already available at national level will be leveraged at EDPB level where appropriate.   Background and next steps The CEF is a key action of the EDPB under its 2024-2027 Strategy , aimed at streamlining enforcement and cooperation among DPAs.  In 2023, the EDPB published the report on its first coordinated action on the  use of cloud-based services by the public sector . In 2024, the EDPB also published the report on the outcome of the second coordinated action on the  designation and position of Data Protection Officers . In 2025, the EDPB issued the report on its third coordination action on the  implementation of the right of access . The CEF 2026 action will be on the  obligations of transparency and information under the GDPR .   For further information: DA DPA:   EDPB vedtager rapport om dataansvarliges overholdelse af retten til sletning EL DPA: Ολοκλήρωση της συντονισμένης δράσης του","titre":"EDPB identifies challenges hindering the full implementation of the right to erasure","pubDate":"Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:27:14 +0100","id":2703238},{"description":"Background information Date of final decision: 15 May 2025 National case Controller:  SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES Legal Reference(s): Article 7 (Conditions for consent), Article 6 (Lawfulness of processing) Decision: administrative fine and an order to cease electronic commercial prospecting in the absence of valid consent, together with a penalty of €10 000 per day overdue after a period of 9 months Key words: administrative fine, consent,  unsolicited communication   Summary of the Decision Origin of the case   As the French Supervisory Authority (SA) made commercial prospecting a priority topic for investigations in 2022, it focused on the practices of professionals in the sector, particularly those who resell data, including the many intermediaries in this ecosystem known as data brokers. The French SA carried out investigations on SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES which got prospect data mainly from data brokers, publishers of game contests and product testing sites (these actors are the first links in the chain, the primary collectors, who are responsible for collecting prospect data). SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES used this data to operate commercial prospecting by SMS or e-mail to individuals concerned, on behalf of its advertiser customer. It may also pass on some of this data to its customers, so that they can carry out their own commercial prospecting by telephone or post. Key Findings  Failure to comply with the obligation to obtain the consent of individuals to receive commercial prospecting by electronic means (Article L.34-5 of the French Post and Electronic Communications Code): The restricted committee considered that the misleading appearance of the forms used by data brokers made it impossible to obtain free and unambiguous consent, in compliance with the requirements of the GDPR, which would have formed the basis for the prospecting operations carried out by the company. Failure to demonstrate that the data subject has consented to processing of his or her personal data (Article 7 of the GDPR): The company failed to provide the French SA with proof of consent from individuals whose data has been transferred to it by one of its main suppliers. As a result, the French SA was unable to examine the collection forms used by this supplier and, therefore, the validity of the consent of the data subjects.   Decision  Based on the findings of the inspection, the restricted committee – the French SA body responsible for issuing sanctions – considered that the company had failed to comply with obligations under the French Post and Electronic Communications Code (CPCE) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regarding the collection and proof of consent.  It imposed on SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES:  a €900 000 fine which was made public; and an order to cease electronic commercial prospecting in the absence of valid consent, together with a penalty of €10 000 per day overdue after a period of 9 months.  The amount of this fine takes into account the very large number of people concerned (several million), the company's historical position on the market, the financial benefit derived from the breaches, and the measures taken by the company to comply with some of its obligations since the checks were carried out. For further information:  •  Courtiers en données : sanction de 900 000 euros à l’encontre de la société SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES (French) •  Data brokers: SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES fined €900,000  (English)","titre":"The French SA fines SOLOCAL €900 000","id":2170441,"pubDate":"Tue, 10 Jun 2025 09:51:20 +0200","source":"EDPB News","url":"https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2025/french-sa-fines-solocal-eu900-000_en"},{"description":"Background information Date of final decision: 15 May 2025 National case Controller:  SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES Legal Reference(s): Article 7 (Conditions for consent), Article 6 (Lawfulness of processing) Decision: administrative fine and an order to cease electronic commercial prospecting in the absence of valid consent, together with a penalty of 10 000 € per day overdue after a period of 9 months Key words: administrative fine, consent,  unsolicited communication   Summary of the Decision Origin of the case   As the French Supervisory Authority (SA) made commercial prospecting a priority topic for investigations in 2022, it focused on the practices of professionals in the sector, particularly those who resell data, including the many intermediaries in this ecosystem known as data brokers. The French SA carried out investigations on SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES which got prospect data mainly from data brokers, publishers of game contests and product testing sites (these actors are the first links in the chain, the primary collectors, who are responsible for collecting prospect data). SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES used this data to operate commercial prospecting by SMS or e-mail to individuals concerned, on behalf of its advertiser customer. It may also pass on some of this data to its customers, so that they can carry out their own commercial prospecting by telephone or post. Key Findings  Failure to comply with the obligation to obtain the consent of individuals to receive commercial prospecting by electronic means (Article L.34-5 of the French Post and Electronic Communications Code): The restricted committee considered that the misleading appearance of the forms used by data brokers made it impossible to obtain free and unambiguous consent, in compliance with the requirements of the GDPR, which would have formed the basis for the prospecting operations carried out by the company. Failure to demonstrate that the data subject has consented to processing of his or her personal data (Article 7 of the GDPR): The company failed to provide the French SA with proof of consent from individuals whose data has been transferred to it by one of its main suppliers. As a result, the French SA was unable to examine the collection forms used by this supplier and, therefore, the validity of the consent of the data subjects.   Decision  Based on the findings of the inspection, the restricted committee – the French SA body responsible for issuing sanctions – considered that the company had failed to comply with obligations under the French Post and Electronic Communications Code (CPCE) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regarding the collection and proof of consent.  It imposed on SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES:  a 900 000 € fine which was made public; and an order to cease electronic commercial prospecting in the absence of valid consent, together with a penalty of 10 000 € per day overdue after a period of 9 months.  The amount of this fine takes into account the very large number of people concerned (several million), the company's historical position on the market, the financial benefit derived from the breaches, and the measures taken by the company to comply with some of its obligations since the checks were carried out. For further information:  •   Courtiers en données : sanction de 900 000 euros à l’encontre de la société SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES (French) •   Data brokers: SOLOCAL MARKETING SERVICES fined €900,000  (English)","pubDate":"Wed, 21 May 2025 15:52:14 +0200","id":2130472,"titre":"The French SA fines SOLOCAL 900 000 €","url":"https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2025/french-sa-fines-solocal-900-000-eu_en","source":"EDPB News"},{"description":"Brussels, 06 May - During its latest plenary, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) adopted an opinion on the European Commission’s draft adequacy decision under the GDPR concerning the European Patent Organisation (EPO) . In addition, the Board adopted an opinion on the European Commission’s proposal to extend the validity of the UK adequacy decisions under the GDPR and the Law Enforcement Directive (LED) . Finally, the EDPB agreed to grant the status of observer to the Personal Data Protection Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.   Adequate protection of personal data by the EPO At the European Commission’s request, the Board adopted an opinion on the Commission’s draft adequacy decision regarding the European Patent Organisation (EPO). Once formally adopted by the Commission, this will be the first adequacy decision concerning an international organisation and not a country or a region. An adequacy decision is a key-mechanism in EU data protection legislation which allows the European Commission to determine whether a third country or an international organisation offers an adequate level of data protection. The effect of such a decision is that personal data can flow freely from Europe to that third country or international organisation. EDPB Chair, Anu Talus, said: “The EDPB welcomes the Commission’s initiative to work on the first adequacy decision concerning an international organisation. This decision shows how the legal framework of such organisations can be recognised as ensuring an adequate level of protection on the basis of Art.45 GDPR. The EDPB underlines the importance of ongoing dialogue between the Commission and international organisations, with a view to developing this category of adequacy decisions in addition to those relating to third countries.” In its opinion, the Board positively notes that the EPO data protection framework is largely aligned with the European Union data protection framework, including on data protection rights and principles. This shows that the GDPR and, in particular, its transfer provisions, can facilitate safe data flows from Europe to international organisations, while taking into account their status.   Six-month extension of the UK adequacy decisions The EDPB opinion, requested by the European Commission, addresses the proposed extension of the two UK adequacy decisions under the GDPR and the LED, which are set to expire on 27 June 2025. The opinion only concerns the proposed 6-month extension of these adequacy decisions and does not address the level of protection for personal data afforded in the UK, which will be examined by the EDPB following the Commission’s assessment, and if the renewal of the UK adequacy decisions is proposed. Since the UK‘s data protection reform is still pending in the UK parliament, the EDPB recognises the need for a technical and time-limited extension of the adequacy decisions until 27 December 2025.This will give the European Commission sufficient time to evaluate the updated UK legal framework once it has been adopted.   The EDPB stresses that this extension is exceptional and is due to the ongoing legislative developments in the UK. It should not, in principle, be further prolonged. The Board recalls the validity of its opinions 14/2021 and 15/2021 on the two UK adequacy decisions, adopted in April 2021, and invites the European Commission to take them into account in its future assessments.  The Board also recalls the Commission’s obligation to monitor all relevant developments in the UK during the extension period.   New observer to the EDPB’s activities Finally, EDPB members agreed to grant observer status to the EDPB’s activities to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Data Protection Authority, in line with Art. 8 EDPB Rules of Procedure .","titre":"European Patent Organisation and extension of adequacy decisions for the UK: EDPB adopts opinions","id":2099053,"pubDate":"Tue, 06 May 2025 15:51:59 +0200","source":"EDPB News","url":"https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2025/european-patent-organisation-and-extension-adequacy-decisions-uk-edpb-adopts_en"},{"source":"EDPB News","url":"https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2025/cef-2024-edpb-identifies-challenges-full-implementation-right-access_en","description":"Brussels, 20 January - The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has adopted a report on the implementation of the right of access by controllers . The report summarises the outcome of a series of coordinated national actions carried out in 2024 under the Coordinated Enforcement Framework (CEF). It lists the issues that were observed for some controllers, along with a series of recommendations to help them implement the right of access. A central element is controllers’ awareness of the EDPB Guidelines 01/2022 on data subjects rights – Right of access and whether these guidelines were followed in practice. EDPB Deputy Chair Zdravko Vukíc said: “The CEF is a valuable initiative that helps strengthen the cooperation among Data Protection Authorities (DPAs): by tackling selected topics in a coordinated fashion, they achieve greater efficiency and more consistency. How controllers implement the right of access lies at the heart of data protection and it is one of the most frequently exercised data subject rights.” Throughout 2024, 30 DPAs across Europe launched coordinated investigations into the compliance of controllers with the right of access, by opening formal investigations, assessing whether a formal investigation was warranted and/or carrying out fact-finding exercises.  A total of 1,185 controllers, consisting of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and big companies active in different industries and fields, as well as various types of public entities, responded to the action. Areas of improvement and main challenges The results suggest that more awareness raising about Guidelines 01/2022 is necessary , both at national and EU level, as the guidelines help controllers implement the right of access, explain how exercising this right can be made easier, and list the exceptions and limitations of the right to access. As a result of the 2024 CEF action, seven challenges were identified. One of them is the lack of documented internal procedures to handle access requests. In addition, inconsistent and excessive interpretations of the limits to the right of access were also observed, such as overly relying on certain exceptions to automatically refuse access requests. Another example is the barriers that individuals could encounter when exercising their right of access, such as  formal requirements or being requested to provide excessive identification documents. For each challenge identified, the report provides a list of non-binding recommendations to be taken into account by controllers and DPAs. Positive findings Despite the existing challenges, two thirds of participating DPAs evaluated the level of compliance of responding controllers with respect to the right of access from ‘average’ to ‘high’. One important factor identified as having an impact on the level of compliance was the volume of access requests received by controllers, as well as the size of the organisation. More specifically, large-sized controllers or controllers receiving more requests were more likely to reach a higher level of compliance than small organisations with less resources. Positive findings were observed across Europe. These include the implementation of best practices by controllers, such as user-friendly online forms enabling individuals to submit an access request easily as well as self-service systems to allow individuals to autonomously download their personal data in a few clicks and at any time. Background and next steps The CEF is a key action of the EDPB under its 2024-2027 Strategy, aimed at streamlining enforcement and cooperation among DPAs.  In the past three years, two previous CEF actions were carried out. The results of these national actions are aggregated and analysed together to generate deeper insight into the topic and allowing for targeted follow-up on both national and EU level. In 2023, the EDPB published the report on its first coordinated action on the use of cloud-based services by the public sector . In 2024, the EDPB also published the","titre":"CEF 2024: EDPB identifies challenges to the full implementation of the right of access","pubDate":"Mon, 20 Jan 2025 15:49:16 +0100","id":1857297},{"description":"Key Takeaways: In an era where environmental consciousness is at an all-time high, individuals across the globe are making conscious efforts to adopt eco-friendly lifestyles. From ditching plastic straws to embracing electric vehicles, the pursuit of sustainability has become a prevailing trend. However, amidst this wave of environmental activism, one aspect of modern life often flies under the radar: gaming. Surprising research has unveiled the shocking truth about the carbon footprint of gaming, shedding light on its significant environmental impact. Let’s delve into the data and explore how your gaming habit may be contributing to environmental degradation on a global The post Shocking Data Revealed: How Your Gaming Habit Is Destroying the Environment appeared first on Business Today","titre":"Shocking Data Revealed: How Your Gaming Habit Is Destroying the Environment","pubDate":"Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:30:42 +0100","id":1182347,"source":"Business Today","url":"https://businesstoday.news/shocking-data-revealed-how-your-gaming-habit-is-destroying-the-environment/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shocking-data-revealed-how-your-gaming-habit-is-destroying-the-environment"}]