[Advocacy Advisors] EU Data Protection Reform / "Right to be forgotten" softened

Fri Jan 11 20:27:09 UTC 2013

Hi all,

Of course, when it comes to user data protection, we're lightyears ahead of
a number of for-profit, commercial enterprises nedless to be mentioned
here. And yes, the new proposed changes in the parliament are going in the
right direction for us, so there's no need to panic.

What we need to take away from this is that we must keep our eyes open in
the future for risky law proposals or ammendments (not just in the EU).

The issue with Wiki*edia is that we're neither a company, nor a citizen nor
a traditional community, so we're very easily overlooked in the lawmaking
process. Also, our problems and issues are so specific and unique that they
are hardly ever fully addressed by traditional NGOs or anybody else for
that matter. We're the odd kid on the block.

An while it is very easy to raise valid concerns at an early stage and have
them reviewed by the decision-makers, at a later stage this becomes
increasingly difficult. We must learn to monitor legislation proposals
concerning us and to request legal analyses early on if we see something
worrisome. After all better safe than sorry, right?

Dimi

2013/1/11 Jan Engelmann <jan.engelmann at wikimedia.de>

> Hi James and Amgine,
>
> nobody denies that Wikimedia already applies privacy by design and by
> default, as intended by the Commission. But we should read the draft
> through European lenses and that means: the intention to apply a new gold
> standard of privacy matters to all data controllers. For us as consumers
> this is very good news. Regarding the necessities of an open platform, we
> should accurately analyze if there are any requirements we can't comply
> with.
>
> You will find the Art. 17.2 proposed by the EU commission on page 96 (left
> column)
>
>
> http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/libe/pr/922/922387/922387en.pdf
>
> It says:
>
> "Where the controller ... has made the personal data public, it shall take
> all reasonable steps, including technical measures, in relation to data for
> the publication of which the controller is responsible, to inform third
> parties which are processing such data, that a data subject requests them
> to erase any links to, or copy or replication of that personal data. Where
> the controller has authorised a third party publication of personal data,
> the controller shall be considered responsible for that publication."
>
> Many law experts (IANAL) went nuts when they read this particular
> paragraph. The new Art. 2a (same page, right column) proposed by the
> rapporteur brings freedom of expression into play. So this was the basic
> message I wanted to give: the proposal is getting better, but still has to
> go through several stages of the drafting process. The Parliament is bound
> to find a common position until end of february.
>
> Regards, Jan
>
>
> 2013/1/11 Amgine <amgine at wikimedians.ca>
>
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>> On 11/01/13 10:06 AM, Jan Engelmann wrote:
>> > No, our concerns weren't paranoid at all. Have you even read the
>> > initial Draft Poposal? OK, let's shift the scenario from a
>> > WP-article about a public figure to personal data embedded in user
>> > pages or discussion pages. Then any erasure based on data
>> > protection claims would affect the consistency of the whole
>> > project. Aren't we worried about authors' retention all the time?
>> > Here is another reason why. And how do you judge the surveillence
>> > program deriving from Art 17.2? Do you think a volunteer community
>> > which is already concerned with maaany copyright and personality
>> > rights issues could handle that? And please, AGF. J
>>
>>
>> I believe it has already been mentioned: we already do this stuff. I
>> also mentioned I am not as familiar as I should be with the proposal,
>> but most likely the communities can (and will, if the proposal is
>> implemented) develop methods to comply with the surveillance program.
>> Again, we already do.
>>
>> I wonder more if the proposal is balanced and implementable, if
>> compliance is measurable, and what incentives and disincentives it
>> provides. On the face of it, the synopses suggest it should be
>> supported by the WMF though it does not go as far as our communities
>> already do.
>>
>> Amgine
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>
>
>
> --
> Jan Engelmann
> Leiter Politik & Gesellschaft
> -------------------------------------
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>
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