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EU 'should ensure internet advertising meets data protection standards'

18 July 2011

European Union (EU) data protection regulations regarding online behavioural advertising should be enforced across the region.

This is the claim made by the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), who insisted in a recent address that safeguards should be respected under Article 5(3) of the e-Privacy Directive.

Peter Hustinx explained that more stringent regulations have been put in place to restrict the use of systematic tracking and tracing technology such as cookies, which stores information on computers.

He stated such practices are "highly intrusive" and insisted they should only be used if users have consented having been given accurate details about them.

In a speech to the University of Edinburgh's School of Law earlier this month, he said: "The European Commission should avoid any ambiguity as to its determination in making sure that these rights are delivered in the European Union."

Christopher Graham, the UK's Information Commissioner, recently urged organizations found to have breached data protection laws to undergo audits to ensure such incidents do not happen again.

Read more about BSI's data protection standards and publications