EU wants tighter privacy rules

The measures would see the new rules aligned with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Andrus Ansip, vice-president for the Digital Single Market said: “I want to ensure confidentiality of electronic communications and privacy. Our draft ePrivacy Regulation strikes the right balance: it provides a high level of protection for consumers, while allowing businesses to innovate.”

As well as the new privacy rules covering new electronic communications providers the other proposals include: privacy for both content and metadata without users consent – although if consent is given companies will have more opportunities to use the data; simpler cookie rules so users are more in control of their settings; protection against spam so unsolicited electronic comms is banned without user consent.