Dan Cooper

Daniel Cooper heads up the firm’s growing Data Privacy and Cybersecurity practice in London, and counsels clients in the information technology, pharmaceutical research, sports and financial services industries, among others, on European and UK data protection, data retention and freedom of information laws, as well as associated information technology and e-commerce laws and regulations. Mr. Cooper also regularly counsels clients with respect to Internet-related liabilities under European and US laws. Mr. Cooper sits on the advisory boards of a number of privacy NGOs, privacy think tanks, and related bodies.

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ICO Issues COVID-19 Guidance for Employers

By Dan Cooper and Miles Lynn on May 17, 2020 Posted in COVID-19

On May 11, 2020, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) published guidance on how employers should handle data in the event they choose to test their employees for COVID-19. The guidance provides a clear reminder that employers must comply with both the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (“DPA”), and … Continue Reading

Italian Supervisory Authority Publishes FAQs on Data Protection and COVID-19

By Dan Cooper and Luca Tosoni on May 17, 2020 Posted in COVID-19

On May 6, 2020, the Italian Supervisory Authority (“Garante”) published a list of frequently asked questions (“FAQs”) and answers on data protection and COVID-19 (see here, in English). The FAQs build on and expand guidance previously issued by the Garante (see our blog post here), and take into account recent measures adopted by Italian authorities, such as … Continue Reading

Hungarian Government Suspends GDPR Data Subjects Rights

By Dan Cooper and Anna Oberschelp de Meneses on May 15, 2020 Posted in COVID-19

On May 4, 2020, the Hungarian Government issued a Decree that suspends, during the COVID-19 created state of emergency, the one-month deadline that controllers have under the GDPR to reply to data subject rights requests. The Decree also allows public entities to refuse or suspend freedom of information (“FOIA”) requests in certain situations. The Decree … Continue Reading

EDPB Issues New Guidance on the Use of Location Data and Contact Tracing in the Context of the COVID-19 Outbreak

By Dan Cooper and Luca Tosoni on April 24, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Data Privacy, EU Data Protection, European Union, Health Privacy, Surveillance

As we anticipated in a previous blog post, on April 22, 2020, the European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”) issued new guidelines on the use of location data and contact tracing apps in the context of the present COVID-19 pandemic. The EDPB’s new guidelines complement and build on similar guidance previously issued by the Board itself … Continue Reading

UK ICO Issues Opinion on Apple-Google Initiative for a Contact Tracing Framework

By Dan Cooper and Nicholas Shepherd on April 24, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Data Privacy, Data Security, Health Privacy, Privacy and Data Security, United Kingdom

On April 17, 2020, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) issued an opinion on the recently announced Apple-Google initiative to develop a Bluetooth-based Contact Tracing Framework (“CTF”) to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The ICO opinion is generally supportive of the Apple-Google proposal and perceives it to be, at this early phase, aligned with … Continue Reading

EU Commission Releases Guidance on COVID-19 Apps

By Dan Cooper and Miles Lynn on April 20, 2020 Posted in Big Data, COVID-19, Data Privacy, EU Data Protection, European Union, Health Privacy, Surveillance

On 8 April 2020, the European Commission adopted a recommendation on a common European Union toolbox for the use of technology and data to address the COVID-19 crisis (“Recommendation”). The Recommendation responds to calls for a common EU approach to the use of mobile apps in combatting COVID-19—one that improves the efficacy of the technology … Continue Reading

EDPB will issue data protection guidance on several topics relating to COVID-19

By Dan Cooper and Anna Oberschelp de Meneses on April 8, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Data Privacy, European Union

On April 7, 2020, the European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”) announced that it assigned specific mandates to two expert subgroups to prepare guidance on a number of Covid-19 related topics. The list of topics chosen by the EDPB reflects those that have received the closest scrutiny by the national authorities.… Continue Reading

COVID-19 Apps and Websites – The “Pan-European Privacy Preserving Proximity Tracing Initiative” and Guidance by Supervisory Authorities

By Dan Cooper, Kristof Van Quathem and Anna Oberschelp de Meneses on April 2, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, EU Data Protection

Pan-European Privacy Preserving Proximity Tracing Initiative According to media sources, an EU consortium led by Germany’s Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute for telecoms (HHI) will soon release software code that can be used to create apps that will help track transmission chains of COVID-19. The Pan-European Privacy Preserving Proximity Tracing (“PEPP-PT”) project comprises more than 130 … Continue Reading

UK Supreme Court Rules That Supermarket Is Not Vicariously Liable For Data Breach Committed By Employee

By Mark Young, Dan Cooper, Louise Freeman, Richard Mattick, Fredericka Argent and Rosie Klement on April 2, 2020 Posted in Cybersecurity, Data Breaches, Data Privacy, Data Security, United Kingdom

On 1 April 2020, the UK Supreme Court handed down its ruling in WM Morrison Supermarkets plc v Various Claimants [2020] UKSC 12. The Court ruled that Morrisons was not vicariously liable for a data breach deliberately perpetrated by an employee. The judgment is significant in that it overturned the decisions of the two lower … Continue Reading

Greek Data Protection Authority Issues Guidelines on Data Protection and Coronavirus

By Dan Cooper and Spyridon Goulielmos on March 30, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Data Privacy, Health Privacy

On 18 March, 2020, the Hellenic (Greek) Data Protection Authority (“HDPA”) issued guidelines on data protection and COVID-19. With these guidelines, the HDPA aims to provide guidance on the interpretation and application of data protection legislation during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this blog, we summarise the key points included in the HDPA’s guidelines. Categorization of … Continue Reading

Guidance released by EU Authorities on How to Ensure IT Security when Working Remotely

By Dan Cooper, Kristof Van Quathem and Anna Oberschelp de Meneses on March 23, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Data Privacy, Data Security

In order to combat the proliferation of COVID-1, several EU Member States have strongly recommended or required that employees engage in teleworking, rather than attend work as normal. In this context, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (“ENISA”), on March 15, 2020, issued its “top tips for cybersecurity when working remotely”. Some data protection Supervisory … Continue Reading

COVID-19, Scientific Research and the GDPR – Some Basic Principles

By Dan Cooper and Kristof Van Quathem on March 20, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Data Privacy, EU Data Protection

As scientists work around the clock to gain insights into the Corona virus and how to fight it, public and private-sector stakeholders are in discussions to promote the rapid exchange of scientific data. During these discussions, the GDPR acronym inevitably rears its head and casts doubt over what is lawful. The GDPR and national data … Continue Reading

Global Privacy Assembly Issues Statement on COVID-19

By Dan Cooper and Luca Tosoni on March 18, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Data Privacy, European Union, Health Privacy

On March 17, 2020, the Executive Committee of the Global Privacy Assembly (“GPA”) issued a statement on data protection in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The GPA is an entity representing data protection and privacy regulators around the globe, formerly known as the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners (“ICDPPC”). The GPA … Continue Reading

Italian Government and Trade Unions Sign Protocol on Fighting COVID-19 in the Workplace

By Dan Cooper and Luca Tosoni on March 17, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Data Privacy, EU Data Protection, Health Privacy

On March 14, 2020, the Italian Government and several trade unions have signed a protocol, which establishes specific procedures for fighting COVID-19 in the workplace. The protocol also includes provisions on the processing of personal data of employees. In particular, it provides that employers may subject their employees to pro-active body temperature controls before entering … Continue Reading

EDPB Chair Issues Statement on Data Protection and COVID-19

By Dan Cooper and Luca Tosoni on March 16, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Health Privacy

On March 16, 2020, the Chair of the European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”), Andrea Jelinek, issued a statement on the processing of personal data in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak. The statement made clear that EU data protection law does not stand in the way of the adoption of measures to fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. However, … Continue Reading

Belgian Supervisory Authority Issues Guidance on Data Protection and Coronavirus

By Dan Cooper, Kristof Van Quathem and Anna Oberschelp de Meneses on March 16, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Data Privacy, Health Privacy

On March 13, 2020, the Belgian data protection authority (“APD”) issued guidance on data protection and COVID-19. The guidance is mainly aimed at employers processing personal data of employees in the context of the measures they have taken to contain the spreading of COVID-19. The guidance is divided in the following three parts: legal basis … Continue Reading

Hungarian Supervisory Authority Issues Guidance on Data Protection and Coronavirus

By Dan Cooper and Dora Pap on March 14, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Data Privacy, Health Privacy

On March 10, 2020, the Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (“NAIH”) issued guidance on data protection and COVID-19. The NAIH highlights that controllers processing personal data in the context of their efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 must comply with the GDPR as well as Hungarian data protection law. … Continue Reading

Spanish Supervisory Authority Issues Statement on Data Protection and Coronavirus

By Dan Cooper and Anna Oberschelp de Meneses on March 13, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Health Privacy

On March 12, 2020, the Spanish Supervisor Authority (“AEDP”) issued a statement and a report on data protection and COVID-19. The AEPD highlights that controllers processing personal data in the context of their effort to prevent COVID-19 must comply with the GDPR, the Spanish Data Protection Law and the Spanish sectorial health laws. However, the … Continue Reading

UK Supervisory Authority Issues Statement on Data Protection and Coronavirus

By Dan Cooper and Luca Tosoni on March 13, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, Data Privacy, Health Privacy

On March 12, 2020, the UK Supervisory Authority (“ICO”) issued a statement on data protection and coronavirus (“COVID-19”). The statement makes clear that the ICO will take a “reasonable and pragmatic” approach regarding compliance with the GDPR in light of the current health emergency. Similar to the Irish Supervisory Authority (see our previous blog here), … Continue Reading

Irish Supervisory Authority Issues Guidance on Data Protection and COVID-19

By Dan Cooper and Luca Tosoni on March 11, 2020 Posted in COVID-19

On March 6, 2020, the Irish Supervisory Authority (“DPC”) issued guidance on how companies should process personal data when taking steps to contain the spread and mitigate the effects of COVID-19. The DPC made clear that data protection law does not stand in the way of the provision of healthcare and the management of public health issues, but stressed that companies should be … Continue Reading

Norwegian Supervisory Authority Issues COVID-19 Guidance

By Dan Cooper and Luca Tosoni on March 10, 2020 Posted in COVID-19

On March 10, 2020, the Norwegian Supervisory Authority (“Datatilsynet”) issued guidance on the processing of personal data in the context of the corona virus (“COVID-19”) crisis (see here, in Norwegian). Datatilsynet stressed that the GDPR allows the processing of special categories of data (e.g., health data) if the processing is necessary for the purposes of … Continue Reading

French Supervisory Authority issues COVID-19 Guidance

By Kristof Van Quathem and Dan Cooper on March 8, 2020 Posted in COVID-19

On March 6, 2020, the French Supervisory Authority (“CNIL”) released a statement on processing personal data in light of COVID-19. The CNIL notes that while everyone should take measures to prevent the spread of the virus, such efforts must comply with applicable data protection rules, in particular when collecting and processing sensitive health data. As … Continue Reading