noyb Rates 1,000+ Amendments to Reveal MEPs Backing Privacy vs Big Tech Loopholes
The watchdog analysed over 1,000 parliamentary amendments to reveal which legislators support privacy rights and which favour industry loopholes.
Key points
- noyb has published a grading system for MEPs based on their amendments to the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive.
- The analysis covers more than 1,000 proposed changes within the Digital Omnibus reform process.
- The report highlights a split between lawmakers defending rights and those supporting Big Tech interests.
noyb has released a comprehensive assessment of European Parliament members regarding their stance on privacy legislation. The privacy advocacy group analysed more than 1,000 amendments tabled by Members of the European Parliament for the General Data Protection Regulation and the ePrivacy Directive. This evaluation aims to clarify which legislators are supporting data protection rights and which are facilitating reductions in those safeguards during the ongoing Digital Omnibus reform.
Root cause
The Digital Omnibus package is officially intended to simplify regulations for businesses while maintaining high privacy standards. However, noyb states that lobby groups have influenced the European Commission, Member States and many MEPs to strip privacy rights. Max Schrems, chairman of noyb, noted that many parliamentarians claim to uphold rights but act in favour of big tech under the guise of simplification.
Attack path
The European Commission’s original proposal included limiting the GDPR’s scope to exclude online advertising. It also proposed allowing the use of personal data for artificial intelligence without consent. According to noyb, EU Member States have largely agreed to these loopholes, placing the burden on the European Parliament to prevent the undermining of existing protections.
Affected versions
- The current GDPR framework faces potential scope reductions.
- The ePrivacy Directive is subject to parallel amendment reviews.
- The Digital Omnibus reform package encompasses both legislative texts.
Mitigation
- Review the grading of specific MEPs on the gdpr-omnibus.eu website.
- Search for representatives by country and political group to identify their stance.
- Monitor official parliamentary records for further amendments to privacy laws.
What to do and how to stay safe: noyb
- Check the noyb website to see how your specific MEP voted on privacy amendments.
- Monitor official EU legislative portals for published texts of the Digital Omnibus.
- Review internal data handling policies to ensure they remain robust against potential regulatory changes.
- Engage with local representatives to express support for maintaining strong privacy protections.
General security guidance from the TechSec Observer newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Digital Omnibus?
It is a reform package currently changing core EU privacy laws, including the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive.
How many amendments did noyb analyse?
The organisation analysed more than 1,000 amendments tabled by Members of the European Parliament.
Where can I find the grading of MEPs?
The comprehensive grading is available on the website gdpr-omnibus.eu, searchable by country and group.
