Blockchain and the General Data Protection Regulation
In recent times, there has been much discussion in policy circles, academia and the private sector regarding the tension between blockchains and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’). Whereas, the GDPR is based on an underlying assumption that in relation to each personal data point there is at least one the data controller, blockchains make the allocation of responsibility and accountability burdensome. Further, although the GDPR is based on the assumption that data can be modified or erased where necessary to comply with legal requirements, blockchains, however, render the unilateral modification of data purposefully onerous in order to ensure data integrity and to increase trust in the network.
Study
Annex 1
External author
This study was written by Dr Michèle Finck
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Policy area
- Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
- Consumer Protection
- Contract Law, Commercial Law and Company Law
- Economics and Monetary Issues
- EU Law: Legal System and Acts
- Evaluation of Law and Policy in Practice
- Financial and Banking Issues
- Forward Planning
- Industry
- Internal Market and Customs Union
- Private international law and judicial cooperation in civil matters