The European Commission’s Digital Omnibus Package Proposal (the Proposal) represents one of the most comprehensive realignments of the EU’s digital regulatory landscape since the introduction of the GDPR. This comes in addition to the changes the European Commission proposed in May 2025 under Omnibus IV. The long-awaited text, leaked during the previous weekend and now […]
data protection
The Italian Data Protection Authority Orders an Immediate Stop to Deepfake App Clothoff
The Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante) has taken urgent action against Clothoff, an AI-powered app capable of generating hyper-realistic “deep nude” images based on pictures of real people. On 3 October the regulator has issued an immediate order blocking the app – developed by a company based in the British Virgin Islands – from processing […]
Whose Consent Is It Anyway? The Promise Behind India’s Consent Manager
This article is part of a series examining the features of India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 that are unique to, or diverge from, the GDPR. India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA) represents a new phase in the country’s data protection landscape. While inspired by global frameworks such as the GDPR, it […]
CNIL Fines Samaritaine €100,000 for Hidden Cameras: A Legal Analysis
On 18 September 2025, the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL) issued Deliberation SAN-2025-008, imposing a €100,000 fine on Samaritaine SAS for clandestinely installing surveillance cameras in employee areas. In August 2023, in response to a rise in stockroom thefts, the company installed five hidden cameras disguised as smoke detectors. The devices also recorded audio. Within […]
Automated Credit Scoring Under Scrutiny in Europe
The CJEU’s SCHUFA judgement (C-634/21) in 2023 clarified that producing and transmitting a credit score can itself amount to an automated decision under Article 22 GDPR where the score is determinative for contract outcomes. This ruling has now translated into concrete enforcement. In 2025, both the Austrian and Hamburg DPAs issued decisions that apply these […]
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo, Here’s a Fine for You – Disney’s $10M COPPA Case
Sometimes even the strongest magic cannot hide a compliance misstep, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reminded Disney that even their enchantments must follow the rules. On September 2, 2025, a settlement of $10 million was reached between Disney Worldwide Service, Inc. and Disney Entertainment Operations LLC (Disney) and the FTC. Disney is one of […]
AI Meeting Transcripts: Efficiency Tool or Corporate Liability?
AI-powered meeting assistants have rapidly become one of the most adopted categories of workplace technology. These tools join video calls to record, transcribe, and summarize conversations, promising efficiency gains and more reliable documentation. The value proposition is clear: accurate records improve accountability, knowledge-sharing, and business continuity. But as with any technology deployed at scale, the […]
The Data Act entered into force – what you need to know
On 12 September 2025, the Data Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/2854) became applicable in the EU member states. The Data Act creates a framework for fair access to and use of data across the EU and it is aimed at giving users more control over product-generated data and foster the principles of transparency, fairness, and GDPR […]
China‘s Latest Updates on PIPL and Clarifications on Sensitive Personal Information
Different legislative updates were recorded in China in the last couple of months. These concern several topics related to data protection and data security, such as the definition of sensitive personal information, appointment obligations and registration of a Data Protection Officer (DPO), reporting measures in case of data security incidents for financial services and the […]
The Weaponization of Data Protection
As data protection professionals, we see the value of strong individual rights under the GDPR. The right to access, rectify, and erase one’s personal data is foundational to the regulation’s spirit of informational self-determination. But there’s also a negative side to this that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: the weaponization of data protection rights […]
UK Data (Use and Access) Act 2025: Key Changes for Privacy Compliance
On 19 June 2025, the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA) received Royal Assent, becoming law in the UK and marking a significant development in the country’s data protection framework. The first provisions will take effect on 20 August 2025 under the Commencement No. 1 Regulations, with others phased in through mid‑2026; some changes (most […]
Belgian Companies: Are You Overlooking the Data Protection Officer Requirement?
In our previous article, we explained what Belgium’s new Private Investigations Law (WPO) means for companies and when the law applies. As we highlighted, the law’s scope extends well beyond professional detective firms. In fact, many common workplace actions now fall within the WPO. The term “private investigation activities” is defined broadly. It includes any […]
Enforcement Trends in DSR Handling: Key Lessons from Recent EU Decisions
Over recent months, data protection authorities have issued rulings that expose common failings in the handling of data subject rights requests (DSRs). While these were isolated complaints, the supervisory authorities found that the organisations involved lacked internal procedures, failed to provide legally reasoned responses, and could not demonstrate accountability when challenged. These rulings confirm that […]
Preventable Data Breaches: Compliance Takeaways from Recent ICO Cases
Over the past few months, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued a series of enforcement actions that underscore a recurring regulatory concern: data breaches that, in the ICO’s view, were not merely accidental but the result of organisations failing to implement even basic data protection safeguards—violations of their accountability obligations under the UK […]
TikTok receives fine of 530 million euros by Irish DPC
In September 2021 an investigation was started by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), as Lead Supervisory Authority, to verify TikTok’s compliance with GDPR obligations in terms of: verification of age requirements for users under 13 or 18 years of age and lawfulness of the personal data transfers to the People’s Republic of China (China). […]