We’re happy to share the news that earlier this month our CEO and Data Protections Officer (DPO), Maciej and Grzegorz, visited Brussels to take part in discussions on internet privacy at the European Parliament. The event, ePrivacy – Challenges from Browsing to Content Analytics, was inspired and organized by Josef Weidenholzer MEP – a politician and professor of Social Policy.
We were happy to have the opportunity to exchange ideas with a renowned group of data experts, such as Paul-Olivier Dehaye. Dehaye is a co-founder of PersonalData.IO, which helps individuals reclaim control of their personal data. Discussing the case of Cambridge Analytics, Dehaye shed light on the ways in which behavioral advertising could threaten democracy.
Inria, the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation, delivered an engaging talk on the risks related to browser fingerprinting through detection of extensions.
We feel strongly about – the privacy risks connected to web analytics and irresponsible data processing. He tackled two topics: the risks of using URLs, custom variables, or dimensions to carry personal data; as well as the risks resulting from storing web analytics data on third party servers.
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion including, among others, Dr Marju Lauristin MEP, Anna Bachta from the European Data Protection Supervisor’s Office, and David Martin from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC). The latter investigates EU decisions and developments concerning, among others, digital rights.
We feel proud and privileged to have the opportunity to present our views on privacy to European decision makers. We hope this is another step towards popularizing the use of web analytics in a privacy-friendly way.
