Expla­nation of vote on Regu­lation on Privacy and Elec­tronic Commu­ni­ca­tions

Respect for private life and the protection of personal data in electronic communications and repealing Directive 2002/58/EC (Regulation on Privacy and Electronic Communications)

A8-0324/2017

Anja Hazekamp

I support the ePrivacy Regulation's main goal: to put citizen's back into control of their own personal data online. In this online environment where so much of our very sensitive personal data is floating around and being monetized by so many different business players, it is imperative that citizens are empowered again by putting the notion of consent central in the processing of personal data. Data Protection and Privacy are fundamental rights, they are not just mere 'regulatory burdens' or 'red tape' like the big businesses lobby has tried to frame it. Businesses in the digital environment are still allowed to process personal data, they just can't do it without having the people whose data they are collecting know about it and agree to it. Citizens want access to the digital world without being tracked or monitored 24/7. My vote today reinforces what citizens and new innovative businesses already know: that European citizens want digital services that are built on the respect of privacy and data protection, and not be offered services and goods which run contrary to their civil liberties and fundamental rights.