Article 80*
Article 80 – Processing of personal data and freedom of expression
Commission Proposal
1. Member States shall provide for exemptions or derogations from the provisions on the general principles in Chapter II, the rights of the data subject in Chapter III, on controller and processor in Chapter IV, on the transfer of personal data to third countries and international organisations in Chapter V, the independent supervisory authorities in Chapter VI and on co-operation and consistency in Chapter VII for the processing of personal data carried out solely for journalistic purposes or the purpose of artistic or literary expression in order to reconcile the right to the protection of personal data with the rules governing freedom of expression.
2. Each Member State shall notify to the Commission those provisions of its law which it has adopted pursuant to paragraph 1 by the date specified in Article 91(2) at the latest and, without delay, any subsequent amendment law or amendment affecting them. |
EDRi’s proposed Amendment
1. Member States shall provide for exemptions or derogations from the provisions on the general principles in Chapter II, the rights of the data subject in Chapter III, on controller and processor in Chapter IV, on the transfer of personal data to third countries and international organisations in Chapter V, the independent supervisory authorities in Chapter VI and on co-operation and consistency in Chapter VII 1a. The European Data Protection Board shall issue guidance on when such exemptions or derogations may be necessary, after consultation with representatives of the press, authors and artists, data subjects and relevant civil society organisations 2. Each Member State shall notify to the Commission those provisions of its law which it has adopted pursuant to paragraph 1 by the date specified in Article 91(2) at the latest and, without delay, any subsequent amendment law or amendment affecting them. |
Justification
It is not always clear when an exercise of the freedom of expression qualifies as “journalistic” or “artistic”. Consider the example of publishing information about human rights violations by NGOs, which may have been obtained in breach of data protection rules.