The European Data Protection Supervisor has called for the introduction of data protection safeguards in the proposed General Product Safety Regulation (see EUROPE 12752/2), in a letter sent to the Secretary General of the Council of the EU at the end of August.
In general, the EDPS has welcomed the references to data protection in the Regulation, but has stressed that the considerations set out in his Opinion 1/2021 on the proposed Digital Services Act – regarding the moderation of online content – also apply to the action of finding and removing dangerous products online.
The EDPS therefore notes that the latter activity may include processing personal data, especially within the context of automated processes. Such online monitoring should not, however, involve any processing of personal data “insofar as this is possible”, insisted the EDPS in his letter. As far as the organisation is concerned, there is a need to make further clarifications in a recital regarding the strict limitation of processing personal data, as well as the circumstances in which such processing would be legitimate.
To view the letter: https://bit.ly/3jFruuX (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)