The Bill passed the committee stage in the Seanad last month and will give effect to the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and an associated directive on policing matters. Section 43 provides that “subject to suitable and specific measures being taken to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects, the processing of personal data revealing political opinions shall be lawful” in a number of circumstances. Speaking earlier this month during the committee stage in the Seanad, she said: “We have seen the role played by companies such as Cambridge Analytica in the Brexit vote and Trump campaign. There is a real and present danger of private companies being contracted to influence and shape electoral outcomes.”Mr O’Brien said it was “significant that Cambridge Analytica contracted with Facebook Ireland”. “This puts the Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon in the front line of defending people’s right to fair and transparent electoral processes around the world.

Source: The Irish Times March 19, 2018 14:15 UTC