Facebook data newsclip

Recorded for Euradio Nantes. Looking into new European legislation on the 'right to be forgotten' on social networks by requesting the deletion of personal data. Featuring contributions from European Commission spokesman Matthew Newman, Tom de Cordier, technology expert at Allen and Overy, and Christian Toon, security specialist at Iron Mountain. ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT: Voiceover: Among the criticisms directed at the new directive is that it will necessitate a wholesale revision of the current data protection laws. Its opponents maintain that restructuring the systems for treating this data would be technically very complicated. Complicated maybe, but also a necessary step, argues European Commission spokesman Matthew Newman: MN: The main reason is because of the way people use the Internet nowadays, especially young people. Young people are using social networks, photo-sharing websites, and they're putting lots of personal data online, some of which may be of a sensitive or even embarrassing nature, and several years from now these young people may want to remove this data. This new regulation allows them to do so, and gives a whole new right to be forgotten. V/O: That's the theory anyway – but how does it work in practice? Matthew Newman explains how consumers can delete their data online: MN: Well, it's quite simple. Every consumer who uses a social network to put their details online does so voluntarily – it's informed consent. But this consent can also be withdrawn – in which case the consumer must simply inform the website's data controller, who is now legally obliged to ensure the data is erased completely, unless there's some compelling reason. V/O: But it's not as simple as that, says Tom de Cordier, a lawyer for international law firm Allen and Overy. He believes the new legislation underestimates the rapidity with which this personal information can be dispersed across the Web: TdC: I think it is somewhat simplistic to require these sites to allow users to remove their data on request. Take a compromising photo on Facebook, for example. You might be able to remove it from the European and American websites, but this information spreads like wildfire. What are you going to do if the photo turns up on a Chinese search engine? The new law is well-intentioned, but it risks creating a false sense of security about how data is going to be used online. V/O: But Christian Toon believes that such potential difficulties should not obscure the very real need for legislation. He is a security specialist at the information management company Iron Mountain. He says the new legislation stems from a need to re-examine the way in which we treat personal data: CT: We need to start taking more responsible steps to protect our clients' data. I think the new law will make companies more aware of this responsibility, just as they're responsible for their finances, or their employees. Clients' personal data is an asset for these companies – it should be treated with the respect an asset of that size and value deserves. V/O: The Commission's proposals are now subject to discussion at the European Parliament, and in the individual member states. If adopted, they will come into force from 2014 onwards.