Intelligent Transport Systems in road transport: ‘lack of clarity may lead to different levels of data protection in Europe’ warns EDPS

On 22 July, 2009, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an opinion on the European Commission's proposed deployment plan for intelligent transport systems (ITS) in Europe that was announced in December 2008 to accelerate and coordinate their deployment in road transport and their connection with other modes of transport. The deployment of ITS had considerable privacy implications, for instance because these systems make it possible to track a vehicle and to collect a wide variety of data relating to European road users' driving habits.

The EDPS noted that data protection has been taken into consideration in the proposed legal framework and that it was also put forward as a general condition for the proper deployment of ITS. However, it underlined that the Commission's proposal was too broad and too general to adequately address the privacy and data protection concerns raised by ITS deployment in the Member States. In particular, it was not clear when the performance of ITS services will lead to the collection and processing of personal data, what were the purposes and modalities for which data processing may take place, or who will be responsible for compliance with data protection obligations.

EurActiv, 23.7.09: Intelligent transport raises privacy concerns http://www.euractiv.com/infosociety/intelligent-transport-raises-pri-news-222362

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in the field of road transport and for interfaces with other transport modes http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-directive-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-laying-down-the-framework-for-the-deployment-of-intelligent-transport-systems-in-the-field-of-road-transport-and-for-interfaces-w/

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