Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 3 April 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation: Data Protection Commission

Ms Jennifer O'Sullivan:

As Ms Morgan said, we opened 15 inquiries in total during the period covered by our recent annual report into those large multinational technology companies. The inquiries cover a range of fundamental data protection matters. Fundamental transparency obligations are being examined and fundamental elements of data protection law as to the legal basis for processing are being carefully looked at. In light of the breaches reported by two of those companies during that period, we have examined the organisational and security measures of a couple of the companies under the format of a statutory inquiry. Regarding the relationship with the organisations, we have a multifaceted approach. Some of our engagement with them is in the context of consultation around their new products. It is also important for us is to get a better understanding of their business models and the context in which they work. That is important and useful for us as regulators with regard to the efficacy of our advice as well as with regard to our decision-making and judgment in separate contexts. Those are some of the inquiries we have under way. Since the start of 2019, we have commenced to open further inquiries.