Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

Last week's "RTÉ Investigates" programme on data sharing and the sharing of personal geolocation data by individuals through the downloading of apps was shocking and disquieting. People the length and breadth of this country are downloading apps and making consents, which are not real or informed, to allow third parties not only to gather hugely personal and invasive information about them but then to sell it to third parties without the knowledge of the person who has downloaded the app. Does the Minister agree that it cannot possibly be in compliance with the general data protection regulation or with our own data protection laws? If there is not informed consent and people do not understand they are giving that consent, it cannot be in accordance with data protection. What is the Government going to do to ensure that the providers of these apps are required to get informed and real consent from the people using them?

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