From four becomes one: EU digital reform weakens data protection

The European Union is planning a significant overhaul of its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), signaling a shift in its digital policy. The proposed changes aim to relax certain data protection measures, potentially impacting how businesses handle user data and how individuals' privacy is protected online. This move is significant as the GDPR has been a global benchmark for data privacy, and any revisions could have far-reaching consequences. The reform includes weakening protections for pseudonymized data, allowing cookie tracking without explicit user consent, and enabling the use of personal data for artificial intelligence (AI) training. These changes suggest a move away from the strict data protection principles that have defined the GDPR since its inception. While specific details on the extent of these changes are still emerging, they point to a potential shift in the balance between data privacy and technological advancement. These revisions could affect a wide range of stakeholders, including software companies, digital platforms, and individual users. The relaxation of certain GDPR provisions could make it easier for businesses to collect and utilize user data, potentially impacting the user experience and the level of privacy individuals can expect online. This also raises questions about the future of European digital sovereignty and its ability to shape the global data privacy landscape.