The European Union is grappling with the challenges of balancing technological advancements with the protection of personal data. According to the 2020 Fundamental Rights Survey by the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), a significant proportion of Europeans are hesitant to share their personal information, with 40% preferring not to disclose any personal data to private firms. Additionally, a quarter of the population remains uncertain about how to manage privacy settings on mobile applications.
These reservations became particularly pronounced as EU governments introduced COVID-19 tracking apps as part of their public health response to the pandemic. Similar concerns have been raised regarding artificial intelligence (AI), with businesses employing or considering AI technologies often lacking comprehensive understanding of the implications for individual rights. The FRA’s recent report on AI highlights gaps in knowledge about algorithmic data use and the legal framework surrounding AI applications.
The forthcoming EU regulations on AI are expected to introduce further protective measures. It is essential for the EU and its member states to ensure that AI systems uphold fundamental rights, including privacy, and to demystify the application of data protection laws in the context of AI.
The dependence on data across various industries underscores the necessity for clear guidelines and robust privacy protections. Despite the review of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2020, there remains a disparity in data protection practices across EU nations. Moreover, data protection authorities are often not equipped with the resources needed for effective enforcement.
These issues underline the pressing need for enhanced awareness of existing regulations and tools, provision of adequate expertise and resources to data protection authorities, and the integration of stringent data privacy measures into all EU legislation and policy-making initiatives.
