Eight months after the scandal over the exploitation of the personal data of millions of users of the American social networking giant Facebook by Cambridge Analytica (see EUROPE 11984), MEPs are preparing to adopt, on Thursday 25 October, the resolution that will constitute the European Parliament's final response.
As a reminder, the draft resolution as adopted by the Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties (see EUROPE 12114) contains several requests and recommendations, including a full and independent audit of how Facebook protects the personal data of its users by the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) and the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS).
However, during the plenary debate on Tuesday 23 October, some disagreements were still heard and additions were requested.
Privacy Shield. The adoption in the parliamentary committee of the text with reference to the suspension of the transatlantic Privacy Shield data protection shield, in accordance with the European Parliament resolution of July (see EUROPE 12056), had indeed revived opposition from the EPP and CRE groups (see EUROPE 12055).
This opposition was reiterated by Daniel Dalton (CRE, UK), for whom some Members of Parliament see it as an opportunity to score political points and undermine cooperation with the United States.
At a press conference, he indicated that he wanted to "vote to get this provision out of" the text. However, at the time of going to press, no amendments had been tabled to this effect.
Four amendments tabled
The S&D group has tabled an amendment to underline, in the resolution, "the urgent need to counter any attempt to manipulate European elections and to strengthen the rules applicable to social media platforms".
It should be noted that the S&D and PEP groups also want to call on social media to work with independent fact checkers and the academic community to better inform users about online misinformation.
As for ALDE, the Liberal Group proposes to invite the next European Commission to create a European Commissioner specifically responsible for privacy and data protection.
The ELDD Group has also tabled an amendment to highlight its concerns about the recent appointment of Nick Clegg, former British Liberal Deputy Prime Minister, as head of Facebook's global affairs and communications department. This is indeed a "worrying step towards increased censorship of conservative voices on its platform”, he said.
The absence of the Council pointed out
The absence of representatives of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union from the debate did not go unnoticed.
"Where is the Austrian Presidency in this debate when it is blocking e-privacy legislation behind the scenes? This is a scandal!" said S&D Group President Udo Bullmann of Germany.
The European Commission was there. "The Commission shares many of your concerns about data protection. [...] We also take note of some new ideas regarding future regulatory measures and electoral guarantees", said the Commissioner for Justice, Věra Jourová. "It goes without saying that the pressure you are putting on them [social media] in this place is producing positive results", she continued. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana with Lucas Tripoteau)