On October 17, the Spanish data protection authority published the Guide to Privacy by Design. While Privacy by Design first became a legal requirement in the EU with implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation, it is a well-known concept among privacy professionals that dates back to the 1990s. PbD should be construed as “the need to consider privacy and the principles of data protection from the inception of any type of processing.” It is a concept focused on risk management and accountability that aims to incorporate privacy protections throughout the life cycle of systems, services, products, and processes. It involves the application of measures for privacy protection among all business processes and practices associated to personal data.
Tag Archives: Spain
Spanish Data Protection Authority Clarifies Requirements for Cross-Border Transfers to Safe Harbor US entities
On Tuesday November 3, the Spanish data protection authority, Agencia Española de Protección de Datos, sent a letter all companies operating in Spain that had previously notified the AEPD of cross-border data transfers to Safe Harbor certified companies. The letter warns companies that because Safe Harbor certifications are no longer recognized as valid, they must take steps to ensure that alternative mechanisms are implemented in order to continue transferring data to Safe Harbor certified companies in the United States. In particular, the AEPD is requiring of all companies that received the letter to inform it not later than January 29, 2016 of any mechanisms that have been implemented to ensure adequate protections for personal data transferred to importers in the United States.
Data Protection Compliance in Spain (2015)
Spain is well known for having one of the most restrictive data protection regimes in the European Union. It also counts with some of the highest penalties (fines are up to € 600,000 per infringement), and a data protection authority – the Spanish Data Protection Agency – with a reputation for being one of the fiercest of the EU. Moreover, the penalties envisaged are not only on paper; they are applied on a regular basis by the AEPD. For instance, in the past few years, it has imposed fines of € 450,000, € 900,000 and € 1,400,000.
Complaints Filed with Spanish Data Protection Agency Rise by 12% in 2012
The Spanish Data Protection Agency has published its annual report for 2012. The report contains a detailed description of the activities undertaken by the Spanish DPA in 2012 together with its view of the latest trends and challenges related to data protection, including an increase in the number of complaints lodged with and monetary sanctions issued by the Agency.
French Government Has Serious Reservations About the Draft EU Regulation, Putting its Adoption in Doubt
On June 11, the French Minister for Digital Economy indicated during questioning by a French Member of Parliament about the status of the draft data protection regulation that the Minister of Justice had rejected, during the meeting of the European Council held last week, the latest version of the draft regulation.
20 Years of Data Protection in Spain
Yesterday in Spain, the Government Department for Telecommunications and Information Society hosted an event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the first Spanish data protection law and also to recognize EU Data Protection Day. Information about the event, titled: “20 years of data protection in Spain” is available (in Spanish) here. The first Spanish data […]
The Spanish Constitutional Court Backs the Possibility of Accessing Private On-Line Conversations of Employees
The Spanish Constitutional Court has ruled against two company employees who claimed an infringement of their privacy right and their right to secrecy of communications, in a recent judgement from 17 December 2012, published in the States’ Official Gazette on 22 January 2013. The Constitutional Courts’ Decision 241/2012 (the “Decision“), is available (in Spanish) here: […]
Spain changes the paradigm of international transfers of personal data allowing Spanish data processors to be “exporters” under the Standard Contractual Clauses for the Transfer of Data
The Spanish Data Protection Authority (SDPA) has established new procedures that allow data processors (not data controllers) based in Spain to obtain authorizations for transferring data processed on behalf of their customers (the data controllers) to sub-processors based in Third Countries that are not deemed to have an adequate level of protection for personal data. In addition, data processors can enter into Standard Contractual Clauses with their sub-processors. Previously in Spain, data controllers had to enter into Standard Contractual Clauses with each of their data processors’ sub-processors in Third Countries and data controllers had to obtain authorizations from the SDPA for such transfers.
At Last, the EU Cookies Regulation Is Implemented in Spain
On April 2, after almost a year of delay, Spain published Royal Decree-Law 13/2012 requiring opt-in consent to place cookies as required by the EU e-Privacy Directive (2009/136/EC, modifying Directive 2002/58/EC).
Spanish Supreme Court Annuls Limitation on Processing of Personal Data
Following the advice of the Court of Justice of the European Union in its November 2011 ruling, the Spanish Supreme Court struck down certain provisions of Spain’s data protection law that it said went beyond the requirements of the EU Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC), in a ruling made public February 13, 2012.
Spanish Data Protection Authority Launches Public Consultation on Cloud Computing
Following the example of the French Data Protection Authority, the Spanish Data protection Authority has opened a public consultation on cloud computing to learn the opinions and experiences of service providers and users.
Ground breaking modification of the Spanish laws
A decision last week by the Court of Justice of the European Union (“ECJ”) introduces an important change to Spanish data protection framework – the “legitimate interest” justification.
Geolocation Services: A Five-Country Survey
Hogan Lovells privacy attorneys examine the challenges of deploying geolocation services in five jurisdictions, including France, Spain, Germany, the United States and Hong Kong.
Social Network Impersonator Fined by Spanish Data Protection Authority In New Exercise of Regulatory Authority
On October 20th, the Spanish Data Protection Authority, the Agencia Espanola de Protecccion de Datos (AEPD), announced an unprecedented decision against an individual who impersonated someone on a social networking site and thus engaged in identity theft. The AEPD fined the individual who had created a profile in a sexually-oriented social network, and chose not to proceed against the online host of the offending content.
Spain’s Parliament Modifies DPA Penalty Authority As DPA’s Enforcement Efforts Scrutinized
Spain has a new penalty regime for violations of privacy, with many minimum and maximum fines lowered. This is viewed as a business-friendly development at a time when the Spanish Data Protection Agency (“SPDA” or “Agency”) has earned a reputation as one of the more enforcement-oriented DPAs in the EU, and when one of its high-visibility enforcement efforts is under scrutiny.