From: PC Pro

By Stewart Mitchell

European Union data protection laws are being “copied and pasted” from tech firm submissions, according to privacy watchdogs.

European regulators are considering amendments to the General Data Protection Regulation, with major tech firms lobbying to limit changes to how they can retain, access and process user data.

MEPs sitting on committees shaping the plans have been asked to suggest amendments to the proposed regulation, but according to research from Privacy International, the wording suggested by several committee members has been cut and pasted directly from lobby group documents.

One UK MEP – Malcolm Harbour, Conservative MEP for the West Midlands – was alleged to have copy and pasted more than 25% of his contributions to committee documents directly from lobby group papers.

Also named and shamed by Privacy International were Sajjad Karim, Conservative MEP for the North West of England, who allegedly proposed amendments with over 23% identical content, and Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar, with 22% of content allegedly taken from lobbyist documents.

We have asked for an explanation for the similarities from the three UK MEPs named in the process, but have yet to hear back.

The claims are the result of a project called LobbyPlag, which analysed amendment documents submitted by MEPs compared to the contents of documents submitted by trade associations and companies.

“Certain companies will always be willing and able to throw millions of dollars behind lobbying efforts to ensure that new legislation doesn’t interfere with their business models – particularly if those models are dependent on invading people’s rights to privacy and data protection,” said Anna Fielder, a trustee of Privacy International

“We would hope that MEPs are taking all sides of the argument into account when making law, not just the richest and most powerful corporate interests.”