On Thursday 7 September, the draftsman of the opinion, Axel Voss (EPP, Germany), criticised the Commission's proposed regulation on online privacy, going as far as to describe it as a “disaster”, during the examination of the amendments to his report at the legal affairs committee (JURI) of the European Parliament.
Whilst the S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups have all got behind the Commission's proposal, as they feel that it is on the right lines, albeit needing a few changes, the EPP report argued that it did not work towards to the objectives of creating a digital single market. “A lack of courage and creativity, and an insistence on clinging to old structures and convictions, are not a good starting point for building a successful digital future”, his report reads.
Readers may recall that the draft regulation on privacy and the protection of personal data in electronic communications aims to reinforce the confidentiality of online trading, whilst allowing service providers to use their customers' personal data as long as they have given their prior consent for this (see EUROPE 11700).
The German MEP criticises the Commission's proposal for over-regulating in this field. He argues that the proposed regulation will lead to considerable legal inconsistency, as it overlaps with the general regulation on data protection. Personal data should be subjected to just one regime and communication data considered personal should under no circumstances be dealt with separately, he explained.
Due to these differences of opinion, Sweden's Max Andersson (Greens/EFA) has expressed concerns over the timetable and ability of the JURI committee to reach compromises on the 470 amendments that have been tabled in advance of the vote at the committee on civil liberties, scheduled for 11 October. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)