Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will start with a question for the Data Protection Commission and perhaps Dr. Cowan. This issue of people's data came up when we held the International Grand Committee on Disinformation and 'Fake News' here in the Houses of the Oireachtas. As Dr. Cowan said, children and visitors in a home could be profiled - are being profiled - and tracked and those data shared. What are the witnesses' views on citizens or users having power over their own data? I refer to the issue of consent and knowing how one has been profiled by these companies, whether Google, Facebook or any other company, and having access to that information such that there is transparency as to whom it is being shared with. As Dr. Cowan said, this concerns whoever comes into the home. They could be children or vulnerable people. We are all vulnerable if we do not know what is happening with our data. It is a matter of that access and transparency as to what data these companies have on us and having access to those data. Does that need legislation? What is the view at European level? Does Mr. Sunderland wish to start with that?