cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/38782740

As gradually leaked the last days by various news outlets, the EU Commission has secretly set in motion a potentially massive reform of the GDPR. If internal drafts become reality, this would have significant impact on people's fundamental right to privacy and data protection. The reform would be part of the so-called "Digital Omnibus" which was supposed to only bring targeted adjustments to simplify compliance for businesses. Now, the Commission proposes changes to core elements like the definition of "personal data" and all data subject's rights under the GDPR. The leaked draft also suggests to give AI companies (like Google, Meta or OpenAI) a blank check to suck up European's personal data. In addition, the special protection of sensitive data like health data, political views or sexual orientation would be significantly reduced. Also, remote access to personal data on PCs or smart phones without consent of the user would be enabled. Many elements of the envisaged reform would overturn CJEU case law, violate European Conventions and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. If this extreme draft will become the official position of the European Commission, will only become clear on 19 November, when the "Digital Omnibus" will be officially presented. Schrems: "This would be a massive downgrading of European's privacy ten years after the GDPR was adopted."

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[–] 7 points 1 year ago (1 child)

I hate that I have no way to fight this, as someone living in the UK. I get that it won't directly impact UK GDPR law, but it sets a bad precedent.

It's not like contacting one's elected representatives really does much, but it at least feels like something one can do. Fuck Brexit man. The UK has really nerfed it's influence on the world stage

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  • 12 comments in c/privacy@lemmy.ml view that post
    [–] 27 points 1 year ago* (1 child)

    Reforming the GDPR is in principle a good idea because many of the terms used in it are so vague that it's completely unclear what it does or doesn't mean.

    Somehow I suspect that improving this isn't what's going to happen...

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  • [+] -9 points 1 year ago

    As many other "leaked drafts" the media spits out, it never actually gets close to what's happening.

    Lets see a real draft from an official source. They will always be available when they are actually done.

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  • [–] 53 points 1 year ago (7 children)

    Why is it not in the main headlines across the internet?

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  • [–] -1 points 1 year ago* (6 children)

    Because it's a "leaked draft".

    If they are the only one reporting on it, chances are it's not true. Or the final proposal will look nothing like it.

    Dont underestimate what these "outlets" will do for clicks.

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  • [–] 24 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    This is actually not only being reported by noyb (which also isn’t an outlet, but an NGO specializing in data protection matters) but also by netzpolitik.org and even heise.de (both German).

    All three have been very reliable in the past, so I don‘t think there‘s any reason for doubting the authenticity of the documents.

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  • [–] -1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    Fair. Lets see who's right then when it comes.

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  • [–] 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Never too early to revolt - why should we be paving the road for megacorps to own/enslave us even more?

    At least educate the consumers on what is at stake, it's a very complex subject.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    We shouldnt. I'll be the first to protest. But I've also learned that alot of forces are trying to smear the EU lately.

    And guess who.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

    Yes, I agree with that sort of caution, but the tech giants have already been successful (MS in particular with their OneDrive locations).

    A full revolt is a strong word, but perhaps a campaign to help EU bureaucratic workers (idk, the ones working professionally on legislative docs that don't have political jobs - so eg various review agencies) bcs they are doing amazing job.

    And with public understanding why privacy & digital ownership rules matter we make their jobs easier (otherwise they are between a loud lobby & a quiet public trying to do their best for the public).

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago

    Danes are indeed fascists. First Chat Control, then this.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    Remember that the commission is a trade pact, meant to increase profit. They would revoke citizens' rights in a heartbeat if they could.

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  • 8 comments in c/techtakes@awful.systems view that post
    [–] 9 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    just had some onboarding training about the GDPR and I really don't get US "privacy activists" disdainful view of it. It puts the individual before corporations. Sad if it's atttempted to be gutted

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  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    From what I've seen, people dislike it because it's the reason we have, for example, those stupid cookie popups everywhere, or that some services simply refuse to operate in the EU so they don't have to comply, as if that were the GDPR's fault and not a symptom of corporations trying to get around the regulations.

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  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    The cookie popups are basically malicious compliance.

    But many yanks (even geeks) have an instinctive dislike of anything that smacks of government regulation. They're conditioned to see corporations as good, or rather, that competition between corporations will always lead to good outcomes, and that anything that disrupts that competition as bad.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Tech bros are just the loudest, most financially successful branch of US geeks. Most of the geeks I know think GDPR is largely a good thing.

    The biggest issue is that when launched, GDPR was taken up by a bunch of consulting companies who told you x, y, and z changes were necessary. Maybe half their advice was correct, but they made a whole lot of money telling you about it.

    Repeat this story for SOX and PCI compliance. Both good things (although PCI compliance could mostly go away with some architectural changes to US payment processing), but some very undeserving contractors made bank off them.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    There was a ton of panic here in Sweden too. Specifically I heard of entities like councils and public boards like unemployment who were braced for a ton of data deletion requests that had to be fixed within 24 hours or something like otherwise huge legal fees. AFAIK nothing like that happened.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago

    Fucking sucks. Why bother gutting a law that's barely even enforced? Just bootlicking American tech giants for the sheer love of the game at this point.

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  • 2 comments in c/privacy@lemmy.world view that post
    [–] 12 points 1 year ago

    In addition, the special protection of sensitive data like health data, political views or sexual orientation would be significantly reduced. Also, remote access to personal data on PCs or smart phones without consent of the user would be enabled.

    The authoritarians can’t get Chat Control passed so they’re trying this instead?

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago

    not like i didn't think this was coming, but still incredibly dissappointed

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