Amendments Will Give Data Protection Commission "Extremely Broad Powers" To Designate Information Confidential - Murphy

Tuesday, 27 June 2023 12:26

By Caoimhe Harney

Kildare North TD Catherine Murphy has criticised a Government amendment to a Justice Bill

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has criticised a Government amendment to a Justice Bill that would create confidential processes for data protection investigations.

“I share the concerns expressed today by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) in relation to the amendment proposed for the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022.

“The language of the amendment gives the Data Protection Commission extremely broad powers to designate information as confidential – even information that is not commercially sensitive.

"This could make it more difficult to investigate big tech firms or public bodies in cases where they are misusing their data," she explained.

“How the DPC goes about its tasks is already opaque. The commission is exempt from most Freedom of Information rules and does not hold public hearings. This amendment will make its work even less transparent.

“The amendment may also conflict with forthcoming European law. The European Commission is due to propose new rules for how GDPR enforcers work together, and how they treat people who bring complaints to them.

“The Government is attempting to evade proper scrutiny of this amendment by inserting it at the final stage of a Miscellaneous Provisions Bill," she added.