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element of inappropriate pressure or influence upon the data subject (which may be manifested in
many different ways) which prevents a data subject from exercising their free will, shall render the
consent invalid.
[Example 1]
A mobile app for photo editing asks its users to have their GPS localisation activated for the use of its services.
The app also tells its users it will use the collected data for behavioural advertising purposes. Neither geo-
localisation or online behavioural advertising are necessary for the provision of the photo editing service and
go beyond the delivery of the core service provided. Since users cannot use the app without consenting to these
purposes, the consent cannot be considered as being freely given.
3.1.1. Imbalance of power
Recital 4314
clearly indicates that it is unlikely that public authorities can rely on consent for
processing as whenever the controller is a public authority, there is often a clear imbalance of power
in the relationship between the controller and the data subject. It is also clear in most cases that the
data subject will have no realistic alternatives to accepting the processing (terms) of this controller.
WP29 considers that there are other lawful bases that are, in principle, more appropriate to the
activity of public authorities.15
Without prejudice to these general considerations, the use of consent as a lawful basis for data
processing by public authorities is not totally excluded under the legal framework of the GDPR.
The following examples show that the use of consent can be appropriate under certain
circumstances.
[Example 2] A local municipality is planning road maintenance works. As the road works may disrupt traffic
for a long time, the municipality offers its citizens the opportunity to subscribe to an email list to receive
updates on the progress of the works and on expected delays. The municipality makes clear that there is no
obligation to participate and asks for consent to use email addresses for this (exclusive) purpose. Citizens that
do not consent will not miss out on any core service of the municipality or the exercise of any right, so they are
able to give or refuse their consent to this use of data freely. All information on the road works will also be
available on the municipality’s website.
[Example 3] An individual who owns land needs certain permits from both her local municipality and from the
provincial government under which the municipality resides. Both public bodies require the same information
for issuing their permit, but are not accessing each other’s databases. Therefore, both ask for the same
information and the land owner sends out her details to both public bodies. The municipality and the provincial
authority ask for her consent to merge the files, to avoid duplicate procedures and correspondence. Both public
bodies ensure that this is optional and that the permit requests will still be processed separately if she decides
not to consent to the merger of her data. The land owner is able to give consent to the authorities for the
purpose of merging the files freely.
14
Recital 43 GDPR states: “In order to ensure that consent is freely given, consent should not provide a valid legal
ground for the processing of personal data in a specific case where there is a clear imbalance between the data subject
and the controller, in particular where the controller is a public authority and it is therefore unlikely that consent was
freely given in all the circumstances of that specific situation. (…)”
15
See Article 6 GDPR, notably paragraphs (1c) and (1e).](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-6-2048.jpg)
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[Example 4] A public school asks students for consent to use their photographs in a printed student magazine.
Consent in these situations would be a genuine choice as long as students will not be denied education or
services and could refuse the use of these photographs without any detriment.16
An imbalance of power also occurs in the employment context.17
Given the dependency that results
from the employer/employee relationship, it is unlikely that the data subject is able to deny his/her
employer consent to data processing without experiencing the fear or real risk of detrimental effects
as a result of a refusal. It is unlikely that an employee would be able to respond freely to a request
for consent from his/her employer to, for example, activate monitoring systems such as camera-
observation in a workplace, or to fill out assessment forms, without feeling any pressure to
consent.18
Therefore, WP29 deems it problematic for employers to process personal data of current
or future employees on the basis of consent as it is unlikely to be freely given. For the majority of
such data processing at work, the lawful basis cannot and should not be the consent of the
employees (Article 6(1)(a)) due to the nature of the relationship between employer and employee.19
However this does not mean that employers can never rely on consent as a lawful basis for
processing. There may be situations when it is possible for the employer to demonstrate that consent
actually is freely given. Given the imbalance of power between an employer and its staff members,
employees can only give free consent in exceptional circumstances, when it will have no adverse
consequences at all whether or not they give consent.20
[Example 5]
A film crew is going to be filming in a certain part of an office. The employer asks all the employees who sit in
that area for their consent to be filmed, as they may appear in the background of the video. Those who do not
want to be filmed are not penalised in any way but instead are given equivalent desks elsewhere in the building
for the duration of the filming.
Imbalances of power are not limited to public authorities and employers, they may also occur in
other situations. As highlighted by WP29 in several Opinions, consent can only be valid if the data
subject is able to exercise a real choice, and there is no risk of deception, intimidation, coercion or
significant negative consequences (e.g. substantial extra costs) if he/she does not consent. Consent
will not be free in cases where there is any element of compulsion, pressure or inability to exercise
free will.
3.1.2. Conditionality
16
For the purposes of this example, a public school means a publically funded school or any educational facility that
qualifies as a public authority or body by national law.
17
See also Article 88 GDPR, where the need for protection of the specific interests of employees is emphasized and a
possibility for derogations in Member State law is created. See also Recital 155.
18
See Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), pp. 12-14 , Opinion 8/2001 on the processing of personal
data in the employment context (WP 48), Chapter 10, Working document on the surveillance of electronic
communications in the workplace (WP 55), paragraph 4.2 and Opinion 2/2017 on data processing at work (WP 249),
paragraph 6.2.
19
See Opinion 2/2017 on data processing at work, page 6-7
20
See also Opinion 2/2017 on data processing at work (WP249), paragraph 6.2.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-7-2048.jpg)
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To assess whether consent is freely given, Article 7(4) GDPR plays an important role.21
Article 7(4) GDPR indicates that, inter alia, the situation of “bundling” consent with acceptance of
terms or conditions, or “tying” the provision of a contract or a service to a request for consent to
process personal data that are not necessary for the performance of that contract or service, is
considered highly undesirable. If consent is given in this situation, it is presumed to be not freely
given (recital 43). Article 7(4) seeks to ensure that the purpose of personal data processing is not
disguised nor bundled with the provision of a contract of a service for which these personal data are
not necessary. In doing so, the GDPR ensures that the processing of personal data for which consent
is sought cannot become directly or indirectly the counter-performance of a contract. The two
lawful bases for the lawful processing of personal data, i.e. consent and contract cannot be merged
and blurred.
Compulsion to agree with the use of personal data additional to what is strictly necessary limits data
subject’s choices and stands in the way of free consent. As data protection law is aiming at the
protection of fundamental rights, an individual’s control over their personal data is essential and
there is a strong presumption that consent to the processing of personal data that is unnecessary,
cannot be seen as a mandatory consideration in exchange for the performance of a contract or the
provision of a service.
Hence, whenever a request for consent is tied to the performance of a contract by the controller, a
data subject that does not wish to make his/her personal data available for processing by the
controller runs the risk to be denied services they have requested.
To assess whether such a situation of bundling or tying occurs, it is important to determine what the
scope of the contract is and what data would be necessary for the performance of that contract.
According to Opinion 06/2014 of WP29, the term “necessary for the performance of a contract”
needs to be interpreted strictly. The processing must be necessary to fulfil the contract with each
individual data subject. This may include, for example, processing the address of the data subject so
that goods purchased online can be delivered, or processing credit card details in order to facilitate
payment. In the employment context, this ground may allow, for example, the processing of salary
information and bank account details so that wages can be paid.22
There needs to be a direct and
objective link between the processing of the data and the purpose of the execution of the contract.
If a controller seeks to process personal data that are in fact necessary for the performance of a
contract, then consent is not the appropriate lawful basis.23
21
Article 7(4) GDPR: “When assessing whether consent is freely given, utmost account shall be taken of whether, inter
alia, the performance of a contract, including the provision of a service, is conditional on consent to the processing of
personal data that is not necessary for the performance of that contract.” See also Recital 43 GDPR, that states: “[…]
Consent is presumed not to be freely given if it does not allow separate consent to be given to different personal data
processing operations despite it being appropriate in the individual case, or if the performance of a contract, including
the provision of a service, is dependent on the consent, despite such consent not being necessary for such performance.”
22
For more information and examples, see Opinion 06/2014 on the notion of legitimate interest of the data controller
under Article 7 of Directive 95/46/EC, adopted by WP29 on 9 April 2014, p. 16-17. (WP 217).
23
The appropriate lawful basis could then be Article 6(1)(b) (contract).](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-8-2048.jpg)
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Article 7(4) is only relevant where the requested data are not necessary for the performance of the
contract, (including the provision of a service), and the performance of that contract is made
conditional on the obtaining of these data on the basis of consent. Conversely, if processing is
necessary to perform the contract (including to provide a service), then Article 7(4) does not apply.
[Example 6]
A bank asks customers for consent to allow third parties to use their payment details for direct marketing
purposes. This processing activity is not necessary for the performance of the contract with the customer and
the delivery of ordinary bank account services. If the customer’s refusal to consent to this processing purpose
would lead to the denial of banking services, closure of the bank account, or, depending on the case, an
increase of the fee, consent cannot be freely given.
The choice of the legislator to highlight conditionality, amongst others, as a presumption of a lack
of freedom to consent, demonstrates that the occurrence of conditionality must be carefully
scrutinized. The term “utmost account” in Article 7(4) suggests that special caution is needed from
the controller when a contract (which could include the provision of a service) has a request for
consent to process personal data tied to it.
As the wording of Article 7(4) is not construed in an absolute manner, there might be very limited
space for cases where this conditionality would not render the consent invalid. However, the word
“presumed” in Recital 43 clearly indicates that such cases will be highly exceptional.
In any event, the burden of proof in Article 7(4) is on the controller.24
This specific rule reflects the
general principle of accountability which runs throughout the GDPR. However, when Article 7(4)
applies, it will be more difficult for the controller to prove that consent was given freely by the data
subject.25
The controller could argue that his organisation offers data subjects genuine choice if they were
able to choose between a service that includes consenting to the use of personal data for additional
purposes on the one hand, and an equivalent service offered by the same controller that does not
involve consenting to data use for additional purposes on the other hand. As long as there is a
possibility to have the contract performed or the contracted service delivered by this controller
without consenting to the other or additional data use in question, this means there is no longer a
conditional service. However, both services need to be genuinely equivalent.
The WP29 considers that consent cannot be considered as freely given if a controller argues that a
choice exists between its service that includes consenting to the use of personal data for additional
purposes on the one hand, and an equivalent service offered by a different controller on the other
24
See also Article 7(1) GDPR, which states that the controller needs to demonstrate that the data subject’s agreement
was freely given.
25
To some extent, the introduction of this paragraph is a codification of existing WP29 guidance. As described in
Opinion 15/2011, when a data subject is in a situation of dependence on the data controller – due to the nature of the
relationship or to special circumstances – there may be a strong presumption that freedom to consent is limited in such
contexts (e.g. in an employment relationship or if the collection of data is performed by a public authority). With Article
7(4) in force, it will be more difficult for the controller to prove that consent was given freely by the data subject. See:
Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), pp. 12-17.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-9-2048.jpg)
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hand. In such a case, the freedom of choice would be made dependant on what other market players
do and whether an individual data subject would find the other controller’s services genuinely
equivalent. It would furthermore imply an obligation for controllers to monitor market
developments to ensure the continued validity of consent for their data processing activities, as a
competitor may alter its service at a later stage. Hence, using this argument means this consent fails
to comply with the GDPR.
3.1.3. Granularity
A service may involve multiple processing operations for more than one purpose. In such cases, the
data subjects should be free to choose which purpose they accept, rather than having to consent to a
bundle of processing purposes. In a given case, several consents may be warranted to start offering
a service, pursuant to the GDPR.
Recital 43 clarifies that consent is presumed not to be freely given if the process/procedure for
obtaining consent does not allow data subjects to give separate consent for personal data processing
operations respectively (e.g. only for some processing operations and not for others) despite it being
appropriate in the individual case. Recital 32 states “Consent should cover all processing activities
carried out for the same purpose or purposes. When the processing has multiple purposes, consent
should be given for all of them”.
If the controller has conflated several purposes for processing and has not attempted to seek
separate consent for each purpose, there is a lack of freedom. This granularity is closely related to
the need of consent to be specific, as discussed in section 3.2 further below. When data processing
is done in pursuit of several purposes, the solution to comply with the conditions for valid consent
lies in granularity, i.e. the separation of these purposes and obtaining consent for each purpose.
[Example 7]
Within the same consent request a retailer asks its customers for consent to use their data to send them
marketing by email and also to share their details with other companies within their group. This consent is not
granular as there is no separate consents for these two separate purposes, therefore the consent will not be
valid. In this case, a specific consent should be collected to send the contact details to commercial partners.
Such specific consent will be deemed valid for each partner (see also section 3.3.1), whose identity has been
provided to the data subject at the time of the collection of his or her consent, insofar as it is sent to them for
the same purpose (in this example: a marketing purpose).
3.1.4. Detriment
The controller needs to demonstrate that it is possible to refuse or withdraw consent without
detriment (recital 42). For example, the controller needs to prove that withdrawing consent does not
lead to any costs for the data subject and thus no clear disadvantage for those withdrawing consent.
Other examples of detriment are deception, intimidation, coercion or significant negative
consequences if a data subject does not consent. The controller should be able to prove that the data
subject had a free or genuine choice about whether to consent and that it was possible to withdraw
consent without detriment.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-10-2048.jpg)
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If a controller is able to show that a service includes the possibility to withdraw consent without any
negative consequences e.g. without the performance of the service being downgraded to the
detriment of the user, this may serve to show that the consent was given freely. The GDPR does not
preclude all incentives but the onus would be on the controller to demonstrate that consent was still
freely given in all the circumstances.
[Example 8]
When downloading a lifestyle mobile app, the app asks for consent to access the phone’s accelerometer. This is
not necessary for the app to work, but it is useful for the controller who wishes to learn more about the
movements and activity levels of its users. When the user later revokes that consent, she finds out that the app
now only works to a limited extent. This is an example of detriment as meant in Recital 42, which means that
consent was never validly obtained (and thus, the controller needs to delete all personal data about users’
movements collected this way).
[Example 9]
A data subject subscribes to a fashion retailer’s newsletter with general discounts. The retailer asks the data
subject for consent to collect more data on shopping preferences to tailor the offers to his or her preferences
based on shopping history or a questionnaire that is voluntary to fill out. When the data subject later revokes
consent, he or she will receive non-personalised fashion discounts again. This does not amount to detriment as
only the permissible incentive was lost.
[Example: 10]
A fashion magazine offers readers access to buy new make-up products before the official launch.
The products will shortly be made available for sale, but readers of this magazine are offered an exclusive
preview of these products. In order to enjoy this benefit, people must give their postal address and agree to
subscription on the mailing list of the magazine. The postal address is necessary for shipping and the mailing
list is used for sending commercial offers for products such as cosmetics or t-shirts year round.
The company explains that the data on the mailing list will only be used for sending merchandise and paper
advertising by the magazine itself and is not to be shared with any other organisation.
In case the reader does not want to disclose their address for this reason, there is no detriment, as the products
will be available to them anyway.
3.2.Specific
Article 6(1)(a) confirms that the consent of the data subject must be given in relation to “one or
more specific” purposes and that a data subject has a choice in relation to each of them.26
The
requirement that consent must be ‘specific’ aims to ensure a degree of user control and transparency
for the data subject. This requirement has not been changed by the GDPR and remains closely
linked to the requirement of 'informed' consent. At the same time it must be interpreted in line with
the requirement for 'granularity' to obtain 'free' consent.27
In sum, to comply with the element of
'specific' the controller must apply:
(i) Purpose specification as a safeguard against function creep,
(ii) Granularity in consent requests, and
(iii) Clear separation of information related to obtaining consent for data processing activities
from information about other matters.
26
Further guidance on the determination of ‘purposes’ can be found in Opinion 3/2013 on purpose limitation (WP 203).
27
Recital 43 GDPR states that separate consent for different processing operations will be needed wherever appropriate.
Granular consent options should be provided to allow data subjects to consent separately to separate purposes.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-11-2048.jpg)
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Ad. (i): Pursuant to Article 5(1)(b) GDPR, obtaining valid consent is always preceded by the
determination of a specific, explicit and legitimate purpose for the intended processing activity.28
The need for specific consent in combination with the notion of purpose limitation in Article 5(1)(b)
functions as a safeguard against the gradual widening or blurring of purposes for which data is
processed, after a data subject has agreed to the initial collection of the data. This phenomenon, also
known as function creep, is a risk for data subjects, as it may result in unanticipated use of personal
data by the controller or by third parties and in loss of data subject control.
If the controller is relying on Article 6(1)(a), data subjects must always give consent for a specific
processing purpose.29
In line with the concept of purpose limitation, Article 5(1)(b) and recital 32,
consent may cover different operations, as long as these operations serve the same purpose. It goes
without saying that specific consent can only be obtained when data subjects are specifically
informed about the intended purposes of data use concerning them.
Notwithstanding the provisions on compatibility of purposes, consent must be specific to the
purpose. Data subjects will give their consent with the understanding that they are in control and
their data will only be processed for those specified purposes. If a controller processes data based
on consent and wishes to process the data for another purpose, too, that controller needs to seek
additional consent for this other purpose unless there is another lawful basis which better reflects
the situation.
[Example 11] A cable TV network collects subscribers’ personal data, based on their consent, to present them
with personal suggestions for new movies they might be interested in based on their viewing habits. After a
while, the TV network decides it would like to enable third parties to send (or display) targeted advertising on
the basis of the subscriber’s viewing habits. Given this new purpose, new consent is needed.
Ad. (ii): Consent mechanisms must not only be granular to meet the requirement of 'free', but also
to meet the element of 'specific'. This means, a controller that seeks consent for various different
purposes should provide a separate opt-in for each purpose, to allow users to give specific consent
for specific purposes.
Ad. (iii): Lastly, controllers should provide specific information with each separate consent request
about the data that are processed for each purpose, in order to make data subjects aware of the
impact of the different choices they have. Thus, data subjects are enabled to give specific consent.
This issue overlaps with the requirement that controllers must provide clear information, as
discussed in paragraph 3.3. below.
3.3. Informed
The GDPR reinforces the requirement that consent must be informed. Based on Article 5 of the
GDPR, the requirement for transparency is one of the fundamental principles, closely related to the
28
See WP 29 Opinion 3/2013 on purpose limitation (WP 203), p. 16, : “For these reasons, a purpose that is vague or
general, such as for instance 'improving users' experience', 'marketing purposes', 'IT-security purposes' or 'future
research' will - without more detail - usually not meet the criteria of being ‘specific’.”
29
This is consistent with WP29 Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), for example on p. 17.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-12-2048.jpg)
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principles of fairness and lawfulness. Providing information to data subjects prior to obtaining their
consent is essential in order to enable them to make informed decisions, understand what they are
agreeing to, and for example exercise their right to withdraw their consent. If the controller does not
provide accessible information, user control becomes illusory and consent will be an invalid basis
for processing.
The consequence of not complying with the requirements for informed consent is that consent will
be invalid and the controller may be in breach of Article 6 of the GDPR.
3.3.1. Minimum content requirements for consent to be ‘informed’
For consent to be informed, it is necessary to inform the data subject of certain elements that are
crucial to make a choice. Therefore, WP29 is of the opinion that at least the following information
is required for obtaining valid consent:
(i) the controller’s identity, 30
(ii) the purpose of each of the processing operations for which consent is sought,31
(iii) what (type of) data will be collected and used, 32
(iv) the existence of the right to withdraw consent,33
(v) information about the use of the data for automated decision-making in accordance
with Article 22 (2)(c)34
where relevant, and
(vi) on the possible risks of data transfers due to absence of an adequacy decision and of
appropriate safeguards as described in Article 46.35
With regard to item (i) and (iii), WP29 notes that in a case where the consent sought is to be relied
upon by multiple (joint) controllers or if the data is to be transferred to or processed by other
controllers who wish to rely on the original consent, these organisations should all be named.
Processors do not need to be named as part of the consent requirements, although to comply with
Articles 13 and 14 of the GDPR, controllers will need to provide a full list of recipients or
categories of recipients including processors. To conclude, WP29 notes that depending on the
circumstances and context of a case, more information may be needed to allow the data subject to
genuinely understand the processing operations at hand.
3.3.2. How to provide information
The GDPR does not prescribe the form or shape in which information must be provided in order to
fulfil the requirement of informed consent. This means valid information may be presented in
various ways, such as written or oral statements, or audio or video messages. However, the GDPR
30
See also Recital 42 GDPR: “ […]For consent to be informed, the data subject should be aware at least of the identity
of the controller and the purposes of the processing for which the personal data are intended.[…].”
31
Again, see Recital 42 GDPR
32
See also WP29 Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187) pp.19-20
33
See Article 7(3) GDPR
34
See also WP29 Guidelines on Automated individual decision-making and Profiling for the purposes of Regulation
2016/679 (WP251), paragraph IV.B, p. 20 onwards.
35
Pursuant to Article 49 (1)(a), specific information is required about the absence of safeguards described in Article 46,
when explicit consent is sought. See also WP29 Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187)p. 19](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-13-2048.jpg)
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A controller that relies on consent of the data subject must also deal with the separate information
duties laid down in Articles 13 and 14 in order to be compliant with the GDPR. In practice,
compliance with the information duties and compliance with the requirement of informed consent
may lead to an integrated approach in many cases. However, this section is written in the
understanding that valid “informed” consent can exist, even when not all elements of Articles 13
and/or 14 are mentioned in the process of obtaining consent (these points should of course be
mentioned in other places, such as the privacy notice of a company). WP29 has issued separate
guidelines on the requirement of transparency.
[Example 12]
Company X is a controller that received complaints that it is unclear to data subjects for what purposes of data
use they are asked to consent to. The company sees the need to verify whether its information in the consent
request is understandable for data subjects. X organises voluntary test panels of specific categories of its
customers and presents new updates of its consent information to these test audiences before communicating it
externally. The selection of the panel respects the principle of independence and is made on the basis of
standards ensuring a representative, non-biased outcome. The panel receives a questionnaire and indicates what
they understood of the information and how they would score it in terms of understandable and relevant
information. The controller continues testing until the panels indicate that the information is understandable. X
draws up a report of the test and keeps this available for future reference. This example shows a possible way
for X to demonstrate that data subjects were receiving clear information before consenting to personal data
processing by X.
[Example 13]
A company engages in data processing on the basis of consent. The company uses a layered privacy notice that
includes a consent request. The company discloses all basic details of the controller and the data processing
activities envisaged.40
However, the company does not indicate how their data protection officer can be
contacted in the first information layer of the notice. For the purposes of having a valid lawful basis as meant
in Article 6, this controller obtained valid “informed” consent, even when the contact details of the data
protection officer have not been communicated to the data subject (in the first information layer), pursuant to
Article 13(1)(b) or 14(1)(b) GDPR.
3.4.Unambiguous indication of wishes
The GDPR is clear that consent requires a statement from the data subject or a clear affirmative act
which means that it must always be given through an active motion or declaration. It must be
obvious that the data subject has consented to the particular processing.
Article 2(h) of Directive 95/46/EC described consent as an “indication of wishes by which the data
subject signifies his agreement to personal data relating to him being processed”. Article 4(11)
GDPR builds on this definition, by clarifying that valid consent requires an unambiguous indication
by means of a statement or by a clear affirmative action, in line with previous guidance issued by
the WP29.
40
Note that when the identity of the controller or the purpose of the processing is not apparent from the first information
layer of the layered privacy notice (and are located in further sub-layers), it will be difficult for the data controller to
demonstrate that the data subject has given informed consent, unless the data controller can show that the data subject in
question accessed that information prior to giving consent.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-15-2048.jpg)
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A “clear affirmative act” means that the data subject must have taken a deliberate action to consent
to the particular processing.41
Recital 32 sets out additional guidance on this. Consent can be
collected through a written or (a recorded) oral statement, including by electronic means.
Perhaps the most literal way to fulfil the criterion of a “written statement” is to make sure a data
subject writes in a letter or types an email to the controller explaining what exactly he/she agrees to.
However, this is often not realistic. Written statements can come in many shapes and sizes that
could be compliant with the GDPR.
Without prejudice to existing (national) contract law, consent can be obtained through a recorded
oral statement, although due note must be taken of the information available to the data subject,
prior to the indication of consent. The use of pre-ticked opt-in boxes is invalid under the GDPR.
Silence or inactivity on the part of the data subject, as well as merely proceeding with a service
cannot be regarded as an active indication of choice.
[Example 14]
When installing software, the application asks the data subject for consent to use non-anonymised crash reports
to improve the software. A layered privacy notice providing the necessary information accompanies the request
for consent. By actively ticking the optional box stating, “I consent”, the user is able to validly perform a ´clear
affirmative act´ to consent to the processing.
A controller must also beware that consent cannot be obtained through the same motion as agreeing
to a contract or accepting general terms and conditions of a service. Blanket acceptance of general
terms and conditions cannot be seen as a clear affirmative action to consent to the use of personal
data. The GDPR does not allow controllers to offer pre-ticked boxes or opt-out constructions that
require an intervention from the data subject to prevent agreement (for example ‘opt-out boxes’).42
When consent is to be given following a request by electronic means, the request for consent should
not be unnecessarily disruptive to the use of the service for which the consent is provided.43
An
active affirmative motion by which the data subject indicates consent can be necessary when a less
infringing or disturbing modus would result in ambiguity. Thus, it may be necessary that a consent
request interrupts the use experience to some extent to make that request effective.
41
See Commission Staff Working Paper, Impact Assessment, Annex 2, p. 20 and also pp. 105-106: “As also pointed out
in the opinion adopted by WP29 on consent, it seems essential to clarify that valid consent requires the use of
mechanisms that leave no doubt of the data subject’s intention to consent, while making clear that – in the context of the
on-line environment – the use of default options which the data subject is required to modify in order to reject the
processing ('consent based on silence') does not in itself constitute unambiguous consent. This would give individuals
more control over their own data, whenever processing is based on his/her consent. As regards impact on data
controllers, this would not have a major impact as it solely clarifies and better spells out the implications of the current
Directive in relation to the conditions for a valid and meaningful consent from the data subject. In particular, to the
extent that 'explicit' consent would clarify – by replacing "unambiguous" – the modalities and quality of consent and
that it is not intended to extend the cases and situations where (explicit) consent should be used as a ground for
processing, the impact of this measure on data controllers is not expected to be major.”
42
See Article 7(2). See also Working Document 02/2013 on obtaining consent for cookies (WP 208), pp. 3-6.
43
See Recital 32 GDPR.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-16-2048.jpg)
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However, within the requirements of the GDPR, controllers have the liberty to develop a consent
flow that suits their organisation. In this regard, physical motions can be qualified as a clear
affirmative action in compliance with the GDPR.
Controllers should design consent mechanisms in ways that are clear to data subjects. Controllers
must avoid ambiguity and must ensure that the action by which consent is given can be
distinguished from other actions. Therefore, merely continuing the ordinary use of a website is not
conduct from which one can infer an indication of wishes by the data subject to signify his or her
agreement to a proposed processing operation.
[Example 15]
Swiping a bar on a screen, waiving in front of a smart camera, turning a smartphone around clockwise, or in a
figure eight motion may be options to indicate agreement, as long as clear information is provided, and it is
clear that the motion in question signifies agreement to a specific request (e.g. if you swipe this bar to the left,
you agree to the use of information X for purpose Y. Repeat the motion to confirm). The controller must be
able to demonstrate that consent was obtained this way and data subjects must be able to withdraw consent as
easily as it was given.
[Example 16]
Scrolling down or swiping through a website will not satisfy the requirement of a clear and affirmative action.
This is because the alert that continuing to scroll will constitute consent may be difficult to distinguish and/or
may be missed when a data subject is quickly scrolling through large amounts of text and such an action is not
sufficiently unambiguous.
In the digital context, many services need personal data to function, hence, data subjects receive
multiple consent requests that need answers through clicks and swipes every day. This may result in
a certain degree of click fatigue: when encountered too many times, the actual warning effect of
consent mechanisms is diminishing.
This results in a situation where consent questions are no longer read. This is a particular risk to
data subjects, as, typically, consent is asked for actions that are in principle unlawful without their
consent. The GDPR places upon controllers the obligation to develop ways to tackle this issue.
An often-mentioned example to do this in the online context is to obtain consent of Internet users
via their browser settings. Such settings should be developed in line with the conditions for valid
consent in the GDPR, as for instance that the consent shall be granular for each of the envisaged
purposes and that the information to be provided, should name the controllers.
In any event, consent must always be obtained before the controller starts processing personal data
for which consent is needed. WP29 has consistently held in previous opinions that consent should
be given prior to the processing activity.44
Although the GDPR does not literally prescribe in
Article 4(11) that consent must be given prior to the processing activity, this is clearly implied. The
heading of Article 6(1) and the wording “has given” in Article 6(1)(a) support this interpretation. It
follows logically from Article 6 and Recital 40 that a valid lawful basis must be present before
44
WP29 has consistently held this position since Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), pp. 30-31.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-17-2048.jpg)
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An organisation may also obtain explicit consent through a telephone conversation, provided that
the information about the choice is fair, intelligible and clear, and it asks for a specific confirmation
from the data subject (e.g. pressing a button or providing oral confirmation).
[Example 17] A data controller may also obtain explicit consent from a visitor to its website by offering an
explicit consent screen that contains Yes and No check boxes, provided that the text clearly indicates the
consent, for instance “I, hereby, consent to the processing of my data”, and not for instance, “It is clear to me
that my data will be processed”. It goes without saying that the conditions for informed consent as well as the
other conditions for obtaining valid consent should be met.
[Example 18] A clinic for cosmetic surgery seeks explicit consent from a patient to transfer his medical record
to an expert whose second opinion is asked on the condition of the patient. The medical record is a digital file.
Given the specific nature of the information concerned, the clinic asks for an electronic signature of the data
subject to obtain valid explicit consent and to be able to demonstrate that explicit consent was obtained.48
Two stage verification of consent can also be a way to make sure explicit consent is valid. For
example, a data subject receives an email notifying them of the controller’s intent to process a
record containing medical data. The controller explains in the email that he asks for consent for the
use of a specific set of information for a specific purpose. If the data subjects agrees to the use of
this data, the controller asks him or her for an email reply containing the statement ‘I agree’. After
the reply is sent, the data subject receives a verification link that must be clicked, or an SMS
message with a verification code, to confirm agreement.
Article 9(2) does not recognize “necessary for the performance of a contract” as an exception to the
general prohibition to process special categories of data. Therefore controllers and Member States
that deal with this situation should explore the specific exceptions in Article 9(2) subparagraphs (b)
to (j). Should none of the exceptions (b) to (j) apply, obtaining explicit consent in accordance with
the conditions for valid consent in the GDPR remains the only possible lawful exception to process
such data.
[Example 19]
An airline company, Holiday Airways, offers an assisted travelling service for passengers that cannot travel
unassisted, for example due to a disability. A customer books a flight from Amsterdam to Budapest and
requests travel assistance to be able to board the plane. Holiday Airways requires her to provide information on
her health condition to be able to arrange the appropriate services for her (hence, there are many possibilities
e.g. wheelchair on the arrival gate, or an assistant travelling with her from A to B.) Holiday Airways asks for
explicit consent to process the health data of this customer for the purpose of arranging the requested travel
assistance. -The data processed on the basis of consent should be necessary for the requested service.
Moreover, flights to Budapest remain available without travel assistance. Please note that since that data are
necessary for the provision of the requested service, Article 7 (4) does not apply.
[Example 20]
A successful company is specialised in providing custom-made ski- and snowboard goggles, and other types of
customised eyewear for outdoors sports. The idea is that people could wear these without their own glasses on.
The company receives orders at a central point and delivers products from a single location all across the EU.
48
This example is without prejudice to EU Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-19-2048.jpg)
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copy of the information that was presented to the data subject at that time. It would not be sufficient
to merely refer to a correct configuration of the respective website.
[Example 21] A hospital sets up a scientific research programme, called project X, for which dental records of
real patients are necessary. Participants are recruited via telephone calls to patients that voluntarily agreed to be
on a list of candidates that may be approached for this purpose. The controller seeks explicit consent from the
data subjects for the use of their dental record. Consent is obtained during a phone call by recording an oral
statement of the data subject in which the data subject confirms that they agree to the use of their data for the
purposes of project X.
There is no specific time limit in the GDPR for how long consent will last. How long consent lasts
will depend on the context, the scope of the original consent and the expectations of the data
subject. If the processing operations change or evolve considerably then the original consent is no
longer valid. If this is the case, then new consent needs to be obtained.
WP29 recommends as a best practice that consent should be refreshed at appropriate intervals.
Providing all the information again helps to ensure the data subject remains well informed about
how their data is being used and how to exercise their rights.49
5.2.Withdrawal of consent
Withdrawal of consent is given a prominent place in the GDPR. The provisions and recitals on
withdrawal of consent in the GDPR can be regarded as codification of the existing interpretation of
this matter in WP29 Opinions.50
Article 7(3) of the GDPR prescribes that the controller must ensure that consent can be withdrawn
by the data subject as easy as giving consent and at any given time. The GDPR does not say that
giving and withdrawing consent must always be done through the same action.
However, when consent is obtained via electronic means through only one mouse-click, swipe, or
keystroke, data subjects must, in practice, be able to withdraw that consent equally as easily. Where
consent is obtained through use of a service-specific user interface (for example, via a website, an
app, a log-on account, the interface of an IoT device or by e-mail), there is no doubt a data subject
must be able to withdraw consent via the same electronic interface, as switching to another interface
for the sole reason of withdrawing consent would require undue effort. Furthermore, the data
subject should be able to withdraw his/her consent without detriment. This means, inter alia, that a
controller must make withdrawal of consent possible free of charge or without lowering service
levels.51
49
See WP29 guidelines on transparency. [Citation to be finalized when available]
50
WP29 has discussed this subject in their Opinion on consent (see Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP
187), pp. 9, 13, 20, 27 and 32-33) and, inter alia, their Opinion on the use of location data. (see Opinion 5/2005 on the
use of location data with a view to providing value-added services (WP 115), p. 7).
51
See also opinion WP29 Opinion 4/2010 on the European code of conduct of FEDMA for the use of personal data in
direct marketing (WP 174) and the Opinion on the use of location data with a view to providing value-added services
(WP 115).](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-21-2048.jpg)
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[Example 22] A music festival sells tickets through an online ticket agent. With each online ticket sale, consent
is requested in order to use contact details for marketing purposes. To indicate consent for this purpose,
customers can select either No or Yes. The controller informs customers that they have the possibility to
withdraw consent. To do this, they could contact a call centre on business days between 8am and 5pm, free of
charge. The controller in this example does not comply with article 7(3) of the GDPR. Withdrawing consent in
this case requires a telephone call during business hours, this is more burdensome than the one mouse-click
needed for giving consent through the online ticket vendor, which is open 24/7.
The requirement of an easy withdrawal is described as a necessary aspect of valid consent in the
GDPR. If the withdrawal right does not meet the GDPR requirements, then the consent mechanism
of the controller does not comply with the GDPR. As mentioned in section 3.1 on the condition of
informed consent, the controller must inform the data subject of the right to withdraw consent prior
to actually giving consent, pursuant to Article 7(3) of the GDPR. Additionally, the controller must
as part of the transparency obligation inform the data subjects on how to exercise their rights.52
As a general rule, if consent is withdrawn, all data processing operations that were based on consent
and took place before the withdrawal of consent - and in accordance with the GDPR - remain
lawful, however, the controller must stop the processing actions concerned. If there is no other
lawful basis justifying the processing (e.g. further storage) of the data, they should be deleted by the
controller.53
As mentioned earlier in these guidelines, it is very important that controllers assess the purposes for
which data is actually processed and the lawful grounds on which it is based prior to collecting the
data. Often companies need personal data for several purposes, and the processing is based on more
than one lawful basis, e.g. customer data may be based on contract and consent. Hence, a
withdrawal of consent does not mean a controller must erase data that are processed for a purpose
that is based on the performance of the contract with the data subject. Controllers should therefore
be clear from the outset about which purpose applies to each element of data and which lawful basis
is being relied upon.
Controllers have an obligation to delete data that was processed on the basis of consent once that
consent is withdrawn, assuming that there is no other purpose justifying the continued retention.54
Besides this situation, covered in Article 17 (1)(b), an individual data subject may request erasure of
other data concerning him that is processed on another lawful basis, e.g. on the basis of Article
6(1)(b).55
Controllers are obliged to assess whether continued processing of the data in question is
appropriate, even in the absence of an erasure request by the data subject.56
52
Recital 39 GDPR, which refers to Articles 13 and 14 of that Regulation, states that “natural persons should be made
aware of risks, rules, safeguards and rights in relation to the processing of personal data and how to exercise their
rights in relation to such processing.
53
See Article 17(1)(b) and (3) GDPR.
54
In that case, the other purpose justifying the processing must have its own separate legal basis. This does not mean
the controller can swap from consent to another lawful basis, see section 6 below.
55
See Article 17, including exceptions that may apply, and Recital 65 GDPR
56
See also Article 5 (1)(e) GDPR](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-22-2048.jpg)
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In cases where the data subject withdraws his/her consent and the controller wishes to continue to
process the personal data on another lawful basis, they cannot silently migrate from consent (which
is withdrawn) to this other lawful basis. Any change in the lawful basis for processing must be
notified to a data subject in accordance with the information requirements in Articles 13 and 14 and
under the general principle of transparency.
6. Interaction between consent and other lawful grounds in Article 6 GDPR
Article 6 sets the conditions for a lawful personal data processing and describes six lawful bases on
which a controller can rely. The application of one of these six bases must be established prior to
the processing activity and in relation to a specific purpose.57
It is important to note here that if a controller chooses to rely on consent for any part of the
processing, they must be prepared to respect that choice and stop that part of the processing if an
individual withdraws consent. Sending out the message that data will be processed on the basis of
consent, while actually some other lawful basis is relied on, would be fundamentally unfair to
individuals.
In other words, the controller cannot swap from consent to other lawful bases. For example, it is not
allowed to retrospectively utilise the legitimate interest basis in order to justify processing, where
problems have been encountered with the validity of consent. Because of the requirement to
disclose the lawful basis which the controller is relying upon at the time of collection of personal
data, controllers must have decided in advance of collection what the applicable lawful basis is.
7. Specific areas of concern in the GDPR
7.1.Children (Article 8)
Compared to the current directive, the GDPR creates an additional layer of protection where
personal data of vulnerable natural persons, especially children, are processed. Article 8 introduces
additional obligations to ensure an enhanced level of data protection of children in relation to
information society services. The reasons for the enhanced protection are specified in Recital 38: “
[...] they may be less aware of the risks, consequences and safeguards concerned and their rights in
relation to the processing of personal data [...]” Recital 38 also states that “Such specific protection
should, in particular, apply to the use of personal data of children for the purposes of marketing or
creating personality or user profiles and the collection of personal data with regard to children
when using services offered directly to a child.” The words ‘in particular’ indicate that the specific
protection is not confined to marketing or profiling but includes the wider ‘collection of personal
data with regard to children’.
Article 8(1) states that where consent applies, in relation to the offer of information society services
directly to a child, the processing of the personal data of a child shall be lawful where the child is at
least 16 years old. Where the child is below the age of 16 years, such processing shall be lawful
57
Pursuant to Articles 13 (1)(c) and/or 14(1)(c), the controller must inform the data subject thereof.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-23-2048.jpg)
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only if and to the extent that consent is given or authorised by the holder of parental responsibility
over the child.58
Regarding the age limit of valid consent the GDPR provides flexibility, Member
States can provide by law a lower age, but this age cannot be below 13 years.
As mentioned in section 3.1. on informed consent, the information shall be understandable to the
audience addressed by the controller, paying particular attention to the position of children. In order
to obtain “informed consent” from a child, the controller must explain in language that is clear and
plain for children how it intends to process the data it collects.59
If it is the parent that is supposed to
consent, then a set of information may be required that allows adults to make an informed decision.
It is clear from the foregoing that Article 8 shall only apply when the following conditions are met:
• The processing is related to the offer of information society services directly to a child.60, 61
• The processing is based on consent.
7.1.1. Information society service
To determine the scope of the term ‘information society service” in the GDPR, reference is made in
Article 4(25) GDPR to Directive 2015/1535.
While assessing the scope of this definition, WP29 also refers to case law of the ECJ.62
The ECJ
held that information society services cover contracts and other services that are concluded or
transmitted on-line. Where a service has two economically independent components, one being the
online component, such as the offer and the acceptance of an offer in the context of the conclusion
of a contract or the information relating to products or services, including marketing activities, this
component is defined as an information society service, the other component being the physical
delivery or distribution of goods is not covered by the notion of an information society service. The
online delivery of a service would fall within the scope of the term information society service in
Article 8 GDPR.
58
Without prejudice to the possibility of Member State law to derogate from the age limit, see Article 8(1).
59
Recital 58 GDPR re-affirms this obligation, in stating that, where appropriate, a controller should make sure the
information provided is understandable for children.
60
According to Article 4(25) GDPR an information society service means a service as defined in point (b) of Article
1(1) of Directive 2015/1535: “(b) ‘service’ means any Information Society service, that is to say, any service normally
provided for remuneration, at a distance, by electronic means and at the individual request of a recipient of services.
For the purposes of this definition: (i) ‘at a distance’ means that the service is provided without the parties being
simultaneously present; (ii) ‘by electronic means’ means that the service is sent initially and received at its destination
by means of electronic equipment for the processing (including digital compression) and storage of data, and entirely
transmitted, conveyed and received by wire, by radio, by optical means or by other electromagnetic means; (iii) ‘at the
individual request of a recipient of services’ means that the service is provided through the transmission of data on
individual request.” An indicative list of services not covered by this definition is set out in Annex I of the said
Directive. See also Recital 18 of Directive 2000/31.
61
According to the UN Convention on the Protection of the Child, Article 1, “[…] a child means every human being
below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier,” see United
Nations, General Assembly Resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989 (Convention on the Rights of the Child).
62
See European Court of Justice, 2 December 2010 Case C-108/09, (Ker-Optika), paragraphs 22 and 28. In relation to
‘composite services’, WP29 also refers to Case C-434/15 (Asociacion Profesional Elite Taxi v Uber Systems Spain SL),
para 40, which states that an information society service forming an integral part of an overall service whose main
component is not an information society service (in this case a transport service), must not be qualified as ‘an
information society service’.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-24-2048.jpg)
![26
should review their age verification mechanisms in a given case and consider whether alternative
checks are required.64
7.1.4. Children’s consent and parental responsibility
Regarding the authorisation of a holder of parental responsibility, the GDPR does not specify
practical ways to gather the parent’s consent or to establish that someone is entitled to perform this
action.65
Therefore, the WP29 recommends the adoption of a proportionate approach, in line with
Article 8(2) GDPR and Article 5(1)(c) GDPR (data minimisation). A proportionate approach may
be to focus on obtaining a limited amount of information, such as contact details of a parent or
guardian.
What is reasonable, both in terms of verifying that a user is old enough to provide their own
consent, and in terms of verifying that a person providing consent on behalf of a child is a holder of
parental responsibility, may depend upon the risks inherent in the processing as well as the available
technology. In low-risk cases, verification of parental responsibility via email may be sufficient.
Conversely, in high-risk cases, it may be appropriate to ask for more proof, so that the controller is
able to verify and retain the information pursuant to Article 7(1) GDPR.66
Trusted third party
verification services may offer solutions which minimise the amount of personal data the controller
has to process itself.
[Example 23] An online gaming platform wants to make sure underage customers only subscribe to its services
with the consent of their parents or guardians. The controller follows these steps:
Step 1: ask the user to state whether they are under or over the age of 16 (or alternative age of digital consent)
If the user states that they are under the age of digital consent:
Step 2: service informs the child that a parent or guardian needs to consent or authorise the processing before
the service is provided to the child. The user is requested to disclose the email address of a parent or guardian.
Step 3: service contacts the parent or guardian and obtains their consent via email for processing and take
reasonable steps to confirm that the adult has parental responsibility.
Step 4: in case of complaints, the platform takes additional steps to verify the age of the subscriber.
If the platform has met the other consent requirements, the platform can comply with the additional criteria of
Article 8 GDPR by following these steps.
The example shows that the controller can put itself in a position to show that reasonable efforts
have been made to ensure that valid consent has been obtained, in relation to the services provided
to a child. Article 8(2) particularly adds that “The controller shall make reasonable efforts to verify
that consent is given or authorised by the holder of parental responsibility over the child, taking
into consideration available technology.”
64
See WP29 Opinion 5/2009 on social networking services (WP 163).
65
WP 29 notes that it not always the case that the holder of parental responsibility is the natural parent of the child and
that parental responsibility can be held by multiple parties which may include legal as well as natural persons.
66
For example, a parent or guardian could be asked to make a payment of €0,01 to the controller via a bank transaction,
including a brief confirmation in the description line of the transaction that the bank account holder is a holder of
parental responsibility over the user. Where appropriate, an alternative method of verification should be provided to
prevent undue discriminatory treatment of persons that do not have a bank account.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-26-2048.jpg)
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When research purposes cannot be fully specified, a controller must seek other ways to ensure the
essence of the consent requirements are served best, for example, to allow data subjects to consent
for a research purpose in more general terms and for specific stages of a research project that are
already known to take place at the outset. As the research advances, consent for subsequent steps in
the project can be obtained before that next stage begins. Yet, such a consent should still be in line
with the applicable ethical standards for scientific research.
Moreover, the controller may apply further safeguards in such cases. Article 89(1), for example,
highlights the need for safeguards in data processing activities for scientific or historical or
statistical purposes. These purposes “shall be subject to appropriate safeguards, in accordance with
this regulation, for the rights and freedoms of data subject.” Data minimization, anonymisation and
data security are mentioned as possible safeguards.71
Anonymisation is the preferred solution as
soon as the purpose of the research can be achieved without the processing of personal data.
Transparency is an additional safeguard when the circumstances of the research do not allow for a
specific consent. A lack of purpose specification may be offset by information on the development
of the purpose being provided regularly by controllers as the research project progresses so that,
over time, the consent will be as specific as possible. When doing so, the data subject has at least a
basic understanding of the state of play, allowing him/her to assess whether or not to use, for
example, the right to withdraw consent pursuant to Article 7(3).72
Also, having a comprehensive research plan available for data subjects to take note of, before they
consent could help to compensate a lack of purpose specification.73
This research plan should
specify the research questions and working methods envisaged as clearly as possible. The research
plan could also contribute to compliance with Article 7(1), as controllers need to show what
information was available to data subjects at the time of consent in order to be able to demonstrate
that consent is valid.
It is important to recall that where consent is being used as the lawful basis for processing there
must be a possibility for a data subject to withdraw that consent. WP29 notes that withdrawal of
consent could undermine types scientific research that require data that can be linked to individuals,
however the GDPR is clear that consent can be withdrawn and controllers must act upon this – there
71
See for example Recital 156. The processing of personal data for scientific purposes should also comply with other
relevant legislation such as on clinical trials, see Recital 156, mentioning Regulation (EU) No 536/2014 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on clinical trials on medicinal products for human use. See also WP29
Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), p. 7: “Moreover, obtaining consent does not negate the
controller's obligations under Article 6 with regard to fairness, necessity and proportionality, as well as data quality.
For instance, even if the processing of personal data is based on the consent of the user, this would not legitimise the
collection of data which is excessive in relation to a particular purpose.” […] As a principle, consent should not be
seen as an exemption from the other data protection principles, but as a safeguard. It is primarily a ground for
lawfulness, and it does not waive the application of other principles.”
72
Other transparency measures may also be relevant. When controllers engage in data processing for scientific
purposes, while full information cannot be provided at the outset, they could designate a specific contact person for data
subjects to address with questions.
73
Such a possibility can be found in Article 14(1) of the current Personal Data Act of Finland (Henkilötietolaki,
523/1999)](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/20180416article29wpguidelinesonconsentpublishpdf-180419105728/75/Guidelines-on-consent-under-GDPR-29-2048.jpg)
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Guidelines on consent under GDPR
This document provides guidelines on consent under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It discusses the key elements of valid consent including being freely given, specific, informed, and requiring an unambiguous indication of wishes. It also covers topics like demonstrating consent, withdrawing consent, interactions with other lawful grounds for processing, and specific areas like children's consent and scientific research. The guidelines are intended to help organizations comply with consent requirements under the GDPR.
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Guidelines on consent under GDPR
- 1. ARTICLE 29 DATAPROTECTION WORKING PARTY This Working Party was set up under Article 29 of Directive 95/46/EC. It is an independent European advisory body on data protection and privacy. Its tasks are described in Article 30 of Directive 95/46/EC and Article 15 of Directive 2002/58/EC. The secretariat is provided by Directorate C (Fundamental Rights and Union Citizenship) of the European Commission, Directorate General Justice, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium, Office No MO-59 02/013. Website: http://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/article29/news.cfm?item_type=1358&tpa_id=6936 17/EN WP259 rev.01 Article 29 Working Party Guidelines on consent under Regulation 2016/679 Adopted on 28 November 2017 As last Revised and Adopted on 10 April 2018 THE WORKING PARTY ON THE PROTECTION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH REGARD TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA set up by Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995, having regard to Articles 29 and 30 thereof, having regard to its Rules of Procedure, HAS ADOPTED THE PRESENT GUIDELINES:
- 2. 2 Contents 1. Introduction............................................................................................................................................... 3 2.Consent in Article 4(11) of the GDPR ........................................................................................................ 4 3. Elements of valid consent.......................................................................................................................... 5 3.1. Free / freely given.............................................................................................................................. 5 3.1.1. Imbalance of power................................................................................................................... 6 3.1.2. Conditionality ............................................................................................................................ 7 3.1.3. Granularity............................................................................................................................... 10 3.1.4. Detriment ................................................................................................................................ 10 3.2. Specific............................................................................................................................................. 11 3.3. Informed.......................................................................................................................................... 12 3.3.1. Minimum content requirements for consent to be ‘informed’ .............................................. 13 3.3.2. How to provide information.................................................................................................... 13 3.4. Unambiguous indication of wishes.................................................................................................. 15 4. Obtaining explicit consent....................................................................................................................... 18 5. Additional conditions for obtaining valid consent .................................................................................. 20 5.1. Demonstrate consent.................................................................................................................. 20 5.2. Withdrawal of consent ................................................................................................................ 21 6. Interaction between consent and other lawful grounds in Article 6 GDPR ............................................ 23 7. Specific areas of concern in the GDPR..................................................................................................... 23 7.1. Children (Article 8)........................................................................................................................... 23 7.1.1. Information society service ..................................................................................................... 24 7.1.2. Offered directly to a child........................................................................................................ 25 7.1.3. Age........................................................................................................................................... 25 7.1.4. Children’s consent and parental responsibility....................................................................... 26 7.2. Scientific research............................................................................................................................ 27 7.3. Data subject’s rights ........................................................................................................................ 30 8. Consent obtained under Directive 95/46/EC .......................................................................................... 30
- 3. 3 1. Introduction These Guidelinesprovide a thorough analysis of the notion of consent in Regulation 2016/679, the General Data Protection Regulation (hereafter: GDPR). The concept of consent as used in the Data Protection Directive (hereafter: Directive 95/46/EC) and in the e-Privacy Directive to date, has evolved. The GDPR provides further clarification and specification of the requirements for obtaining and demonstrating valid consent. These Guidelines focus on these changes, providing practical guidance to ensure compliance with the GDPR and building upon Opinion 15/2011 on consent. The obligation is on controllers to innovate to find new solutions that operate within the parameters of the law and better support the protection of personal data and the interests of data subjects. Consent remains one of six lawful bases to process personal data, as listed in Article 6 of the GDPR.1 When initiating activities that involve processing of personal data, a controller must always take time to consider what would be the appropriate lawful ground for the envisaged processing. Generally, consent can only be an appropriate lawful basis if a data subject is offered control and is offered a genuine choice with regard to accepting or declining the terms offered or declining them without detriment. When asking for consent, a controller has the duty to assess whether it will meet all the requirements to obtain valid consent. If obtained in full compliance with the GDPR, consent is a tool that gives data subjects control over whether or not personal data concerning them will be processed. If not, the data subject’s control becomes illusory and consent will be an invalid basis for processing, rendering the processing activity unlawful.2 The existing Article 29 Working Party (WP29) Opinions on consent3 remain relevant, where consistent with the new legal framework, as the GDPR codifies existing WP29 guidance and general good practice and most of the key elements of consent remain the same under the GDPR. Therefore, in this document, WP29 expands upon and completes earlier Opinions on specific topics that include reference to consent under Directive 95/46/EC, rather than replacing them. As stated in Opinion 15/2011 on the definition on consent, inviting people to accept a data processing operation should be subject to rigorous requirements, since it concerns the fundamental rights of data subjects and the controller wishes to engage in a processing operation that would be unlawful without the data subject’s consent.4 The crucial role of consent is underlined by Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Furthermore, obtaining consent also does not negate or in any way diminish the controller’s obligations to observe the principles of processing enshrined in the GDPR, especially Article 5 of the GDPR with regard to fairness, necessity and proportionality, as well as data quality. Even if the processing of personal data is 1 Article 9 GDPR provides a list of possible exemptions to the ban on processing special categories of data. One of the exemptions listed is the situation where the data subject provides explicit consent to the use of this data. 2 See also Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), pp. 6-8, and/or Opinion 06/2014 on the notion of legitimate interests of the data controller under Article 7 of Directive 95/46/EC (WP 217), pp. 9, 10, 13 and 14. 3 Most notably, Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187). 4 Opinion 15/2011, page on the definition of consent (WP 187), p. 8
- 4. 4 based on consentof the data subject, this would not legitimise collection of data which is not necessary in relation to a specified purpose of processing and be fundamentally unfair.5 Meanwhile, WP29 is aware of the review of the ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC). The notion of consent in the draft ePrivacy Regulation remains linked to the notion of consent in the GDPR.6 Organisations are likely to need consent under the ePrivacy instrument for most online marketing messages or marketing calls, and online tracking methods including by the use of cookies or apps or other software. WP29 has already provided recommendations and guidance to the European legislator on the Proposal for a Regulation on ePrivacy.7 With regard to the existing e-Privacy Directive, WP29 notes that references to the repealed Directive 95/46/EC shall be construed as references to the GDPR.8 This also applies to references to consent in the current Directive 2002/58/EC, as the ePrivacy Regulation will not (yet) be in force from 25 May 2018. According to Article 95 GDPR, additional obligations in relation to processing in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services in public communication networks shall not be imposed insofar the e-Privacy Directive imposes specific obligations with the same objective. WP29 notes that the requirements for consent under the GDPR are not considered to be an ‘additional obligation’, but rather as preconditions for lawful processing. Therefore, the GDPR conditions for obtaining valid consent are applicable in situations falling within the scope of the e-Privacy Directive. 2. Consent in Article 4(11) of the GDPR Article 4(11) of the GDPR defines consent as: “any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her.” The basic concept of consent remains similar to that under the Directive 95/46/EC and consent is one of the lawful grounds on which personal data processing has to be based, pursuant to Article 6 of the GDPR.9 Besides the amended definition in Article 4(11), the GDPR provides additional 5 See also Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), and Article 5 GDPR. 6 According to Article 9 of the proposed ePrivacy Regulation, the definition of and the conditions for consent provided for in Articles 4(11) and Article 7 of the GDPR apply. 7 See Opinion 03/2016 on the evaluation and review of the ePrivacy Directive (WP 240). 8 See Article 94 GDPR. 9 Consent was defined in Directive 95/46/EC as “any freely given specific and informed indication of his wishes by which the data subject signifies his agreement to personal data relating to him being processed” which must be ‘unambiguously given’ in order to make the processing of personal data legitimate (Article 7(a) of Directive 95/46/EC)). See WP29 Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187) for examples on the appropriateness of consent as lawful basis. In this Opinion, WP29 has provided guidance to distinguish where consent is an appropriate lawful basis from those where relying on the legitimate interest ground (perhaps with an opportunity to opt out) is sufficient or a contractual relation would be recommended. See also WP29 Opinion 06/2014, paragraph III.1.2, p. 14 and further. Explicit consent is also one of the exemptions to the prohibition on the processing of special categories of data: See Article 9 GDPR.
- 5. 5 guidance in Article7 and in recitals 32, 33, 42, and 43 as to how the controller must act to comply with the main elements of the consent requirement. Finally, the inclusion of specific provisions and recitals on the withdrawal of consent confirms that consent should be a reversible decision and that there remains a degree of control on the side of the data subject. 3. Elements of valid consent Article 4(11) of the GDPR stipulates that consent of the data subject means any: - freely given, - specific, - informed and - unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her. In the sections below, it is analysed to what extent the wording of Article 4(11) requires controllers to change their consent requests/forms, in order to ensure compliance with the GDPR.10 3.1. Free / freely given11 The element “free” implies real choice and control for data subjects. As a general rule, the GDPR prescribes that if the data subject has no real choice, feels compelled to consent or will endure negative consequences if they do not consent, then consent will not be valid.12 If consent is bundled up as a non-negotiable part of terms and conditions it is presumed not to have been freely given. Accordingly, consent will not be considered to be free if the data subject is unable to refuse or withdraw his or her consent without detriment.13 The notion of imbalance between the controller and the data subject is also taken into consideration by the GDPR. When assessing whether consent is freely given, one should also take into account the specific situation of tying consent into contracts or the provision of a service as described in Article 7(4). Article 7(4) has been drafted in a non-exhaustive fashion by the words “inter alia”, meaning that there may be a range of other situations which are caught by this provision. In general terms, any 10 For guidance with regard to ongoing processing activities based on consent in Directive 95/46, see chapter 7 of this document and recital 171 of the GDPR. 11 In several opinions, the Article 29 Working Party has explored the limits of consent in situations where it cannot be freely given. This was notably the case in its Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), Working Document on the processing of personal data relating to health in electronic health records (WP 131), Opinion 8/2001 on the processing of personal data in the employment context (WP48), and Second opinion 4/2009 on processing of data by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) (International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information, on related provisions of the WADA Code and on other privacy issues in the context of the fight against doping in sport by WADA and (national) anti-doping organizations (WP 162). 12 See Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP187), p. 12 13 See Recitals 42, 43 GDPR and WP29 Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent, adopted on 13 July 2011, (WP 187), p. 12.
- 6. 6 element of inappropriatepressure or influence upon the data subject (which may be manifested in many different ways) which prevents a data subject from exercising their free will, shall render the consent invalid. [Example 1] A mobile app for photo editing asks its users to have their GPS localisation activated for the use of its services. The app also tells its users it will use the collected data for behavioural advertising purposes. Neither geo- localisation or online behavioural advertising are necessary for the provision of the photo editing service and go beyond the delivery of the core service provided. Since users cannot use the app without consenting to these purposes, the consent cannot be considered as being freely given. 3.1.1. Imbalance of power Recital 4314 clearly indicates that it is unlikely that public authorities can rely on consent for processing as whenever the controller is a public authority, there is often a clear imbalance of power in the relationship between the controller and the data subject. It is also clear in most cases that the data subject will have no realistic alternatives to accepting the processing (terms) of this controller. WP29 considers that there are other lawful bases that are, in principle, more appropriate to the activity of public authorities.15 Without prejudice to these general considerations, the use of consent as a lawful basis for data processing by public authorities is not totally excluded under the legal framework of the GDPR. The following examples show that the use of consent can be appropriate under certain circumstances. [Example 2] A local municipality is planning road maintenance works. As the road works may disrupt traffic for a long time, the municipality offers its citizens the opportunity to subscribe to an email list to receive updates on the progress of the works and on expected delays. The municipality makes clear that there is no obligation to participate and asks for consent to use email addresses for this (exclusive) purpose. Citizens that do not consent will not miss out on any core service of the municipality or the exercise of any right, so they are able to give or refuse their consent to this use of data freely. All information on the road works will also be available on the municipality’s website. [Example 3] An individual who owns land needs certain permits from both her local municipality and from the provincial government under which the municipality resides. Both public bodies require the same information for issuing their permit, but are not accessing each other’s databases. Therefore, both ask for the same information and the land owner sends out her details to both public bodies. The municipality and the provincial authority ask for her consent to merge the files, to avoid duplicate procedures and correspondence. Both public bodies ensure that this is optional and that the permit requests will still be processed separately if she decides not to consent to the merger of her data. The land owner is able to give consent to the authorities for the purpose of merging the files freely. 14 Recital 43 GDPR states: “In order to ensure that consent is freely given, consent should not provide a valid legal ground for the processing of personal data in a specific case where there is a clear imbalance between the data subject and the controller, in particular where the controller is a public authority and it is therefore unlikely that consent was freely given in all the circumstances of that specific situation. (…)” 15 See Article 6 GDPR, notably paragraphs (1c) and (1e).
- 7. 7 [Example 4] Apublic school asks students for consent to use their photographs in a printed student magazine. Consent in these situations would be a genuine choice as long as students will not be denied education or services and could refuse the use of these photographs without any detriment.16 An imbalance of power also occurs in the employment context.17 Given the dependency that results from the employer/employee relationship, it is unlikely that the data subject is able to deny his/her employer consent to data processing without experiencing the fear or real risk of detrimental effects as a result of a refusal. It is unlikely that an employee would be able to respond freely to a request for consent from his/her employer to, for example, activate monitoring systems such as camera- observation in a workplace, or to fill out assessment forms, without feeling any pressure to consent.18 Therefore, WP29 deems it problematic for employers to process personal data of current or future employees on the basis of consent as it is unlikely to be freely given. For the majority of such data processing at work, the lawful basis cannot and should not be the consent of the employees (Article 6(1)(a)) due to the nature of the relationship between employer and employee.19 However this does not mean that employers can never rely on consent as a lawful basis for processing. There may be situations when it is possible for the employer to demonstrate that consent actually is freely given. Given the imbalance of power between an employer and its staff members, employees can only give free consent in exceptional circumstances, when it will have no adverse consequences at all whether or not they give consent.20 [Example 5] A film crew is going to be filming in a certain part of an office. The employer asks all the employees who sit in that area for their consent to be filmed, as they may appear in the background of the video. Those who do not want to be filmed are not penalised in any way but instead are given equivalent desks elsewhere in the building for the duration of the filming. Imbalances of power are not limited to public authorities and employers, they may also occur in other situations. As highlighted by WP29 in several Opinions, consent can only be valid if the data subject is able to exercise a real choice, and there is no risk of deception, intimidation, coercion or significant negative consequences (e.g. substantial extra costs) if he/she does not consent. Consent will not be free in cases where there is any element of compulsion, pressure or inability to exercise free will. 3.1.2. Conditionality 16 For the purposes of this example, a public school means a publically funded school or any educational facility that qualifies as a public authority or body by national law. 17 See also Article 88 GDPR, where the need for protection of the specific interests of employees is emphasized and a possibility for derogations in Member State law is created. See also Recital 155. 18 See Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), pp. 12-14 , Opinion 8/2001 on the processing of personal data in the employment context (WP 48), Chapter 10, Working document on the surveillance of electronic communications in the workplace (WP 55), paragraph 4.2 and Opinion 2/2017 on data processing at work (WP 249), paragraph 6.2. 19 See Opinion 2/2017 on data processing at work, page 6-7 20 See also Opinion 2/2017 on data processing at work (WP249), paragraph 6.2.
- 8. 8 To assess whetherconsent is freely given, Article 7(4) GDPR plays an important role.21 Article 7(4) GDPR indicates that, inter alia, the situation of “bundling” consent with acceptance of terms or conditions, or “tying” the provision of a contract or a service to a request for consent to process personal data that are not necessary for the performance of that contract or service, is considered highly undesirable. If consent is given in this situation, it is presumed to be not freely given (recital 43). Article 7(4) seeks to ensure that the purpose of personal data processing is not disguised nor bundled with the provision of a contract of a service for which these personal data are not necessary. In doing so, the GDPR ensures that the processing of personal data for which consent is sought cannot become directly or indirectly the counter-performance of a contract. The two lawful bases for the lawful processing of personal data, i.e. consent and contract cannot be merged and blurred. Compulsion to agree with the use of personal data additional to what is strictly necessary limits data subject’s choices and stands in the way of free consent. As data protection law is aiming at the protection of fundamental rights, an individual’s control over their personal data is essential and there is a strong presumption that consent to the processing of personal data that is unnecessary, cannot be seen as a mandatory consideration in exchange for the performance of a contract or the provision of a service. Hence, whenever a request for consent is tied to the performance of a contract by the controller, a data subject that does not wish to make his/her personal data available for processing by the controller runs the risk to be denied services they have requested. To assess whether such a situation of bundling or tying occurs, it is important to determine what the scope of the contract is and what data would be necessary for the performance of that contract. According to Opinion 06/2014 of WP29, the term “necessary for the performance of a contract” needs to be interpreted strictly. The processing must be necessary to fulfil the contract with each individual data subject. This may include, for example, processing the address of the data subject so that goods purchased online can be delivered, or processing credit card details in order to facilitate payment. In the employment context, this ground may allow, for example, the processing of salary information and bank account details so that wages can be paid.22 There needs to be a direct and objective link between the processing of the data and the purpose of the execution of the contract. If a controller seeks to process personal data that are in fact necessary for the performance of a contract, then consent is not the appropriate lawful basis.23 21 Article 7(4) GDPR: “When assessing whether consent is freely given, utmost account shall be taken of whether, inter alia, the performance of a contract, including the provision of a service, is conditional on consent to the processing of personal data that is not necessary for the performance of that contract.” See also Recital 43 GDPR, that states: “[…] Consent is presumed not to be freely given if it does not allow separate consent to be given to different personal data processing operations despite it being appropriate in the individual case, or if the performance of a contract, including the provision of a service, is dependent on the consent, despite such consent not being necessary for such performance.” 22 For more information and examples, see Opinion 06/2014 on the notion of legitimate interest of the data controller under Article 7 of Directive 95/46/EC, adopted by WP29 on 9 April 2014, p. 16-17. (WP 217). 23 The appropriate lawful basis could then be Article 6(1)(b) (contract).
- 9. 9 Article 7(4) isonly relevant where the requested data are not necessary for the performance of the contract, (including the provision of a service), and the performance of that contract is made conditional on the obtaining of these data on the basis of consent. Conversely, if processing is necessary to perform the contract (including to provide a service), then Article 7(4) does not apply. [Example 6] A bank asks customers for consent to allow third parties to use their payment details for direct marketing purposes. This processing activity is not necessary for the performance of the contract with the customer and the delivery of ordinary bank account services. If the customer’s refusal to consent to this processing purpose would lead to the denial of banking services, closure of the bank account, or, depending on the case, an increase of the fee, consent cannot be freely given. The choice of the legislator to highlight conditionality, amongst others, as a presumption of a lack of freedom to consent, demonstrates that the occurrence of conditionality must be carefully scrutinized. The term “utmost account” in Article 7(4) suggests that special caution is needed from the controller when a contract (which could include the provision of a service) has a request for consent to process personal data tied to it. As the wording of Article 7(4) is not construed in an absolute manner, there might be very limited space for cases where this conditionality would not render the consent invalid. However, the word “presumed” in Recital 43 clearly indicates that such cases will be highly exceptional. In any event, the burden of proof in Article 7(4) is on the controller.24 This specific rule reflects the general principle of accountability which runs throughout the GDPR. However, when Article 7(4) applies, it will be more difficult for the controller to prove that consent was given freely by the data subject.25 The controller could argue that his organisation offers data subjects genuine choice if they were able to choose between a service that includes consenting to the use of personal data for additional purposes on the one hand, and an equivalent service offered by the same controller that does not involve consenting to data use for additional purposes on the other hand. As long as there is a possibility to have the contract performed or the contracted service delivered by this controller without consenting to the other or additional data use in question, this means there is no longer a conditional service. However, both services need to be genuinely equivalent. The WP29 considers that consent cannot be considered as freely given if a controller argues that a choice exists between its service that includes consenting to the use of personal data for additional purposes on the one hand, and an equivalent service offered by a different controller on the other 24 See also Article 7(1) GDPR, which states that the controller needs to demonstrate that the data subject’s agreement was freely given. 25 To some extent, the introduction of this paragraph is a codification of existing WP29 guidance. As described in Opinion 15/2011, when a data subject is in a situation of dependence on the data controller – due to the nature of the relationship or to special circumstances – there may be a strong presumption that freedom to consent is limited in such contexts (e.g. in an employment relationship or if the collection of data is performed by a public authority). With Article 7(4) in force, it will be more difficult for the controller to prove that consent was given freely by the data subject. See: Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), pp. 12-17.
- 10. 10 hand. In sucha case, the freedom of choice would be made dependant on what other market players do and whether an individual data subject would find the other controller’s services genuinely equivalent. It would furthermore imply an obligation for controllers to monitor market developments to ensure the continued validity of consent for their data processing activities, as a competitor may alter its service at a later stage. Hence, using this argument means this consent fails to comply with the GDPR. 3.1.3. Granularity A service may involve multiple processing operations for more than one purpose. In such cases, the data subjects should be free to choose which purpose they accept, rather than having to consent to a bundle of processing purposes. In a given case, several consents may be warranted to start offering a service, pursuant to the GDPR. Recital 43 clarifies that consent is presumed not to be freely given if the process/procedure for obtaining consent does not allow data subjects to give separate consent for personal data processing operations respectively (e.g. only for some processing operations and not for others) despite it being appropriate in the individual case. Recital 32 states “Consent should cover all processing activities carried out for the same purpose or purposes. When the processing has multiple purposes, consent should be given for all of them”. If the controller has conflated several purposes for processing and has not attempted to seek separate consent for each purpose, there is a lack of freedom. This granularity is closely related to the need of consent to be specific, as discussed in section 3.2 further below. When data processing is done in pursuit of several purposes, the solution to comply with the conditions for valid consent lies in granularity, i.e. the separation of these purposes and obtaining consent for each purpose. [Example 7] Within the same consent request a retailer asks its customers for consent to use their data to send them marketing by email and also to share their details with other companies within their group. This consent is not granular as there is no separate consents for these two separate purposes, therefore the consent will not be valid. In this case, a specific consent should be collected to send the contact details to commercial partners. Such specific consent will be deemed valid for each partner (see also section 3.3.1), whose identity has been provided to the data subject at the time of the collection of his or her consent, insofar as it is sent to them for the same purpose (in this example: a marketing purpose). 3.1.4. Detriment The controller needs to demonstrate that it is possible to refuse or withdraw consent without detriment (recital 42). For example, the controller needs to prove that withdrawing consent does not lead to any costs for the data subject and thus no clear disadvantage for those withdrawing consent. Other examples of detriment are deception, intimidation, coercion or significant negative consequences if a data subject does not consent. The controller should be able to prove that the data subject had a free or genuine choice about whether to consent and that it was possible to withdraw consent without detriment.
- 11. 11 If a controlleris able to show that a service includes the possibility to withdraw consent without any negative consequences e.g. without the performance of the service being downgraded to the detriment of the user, this may serve to show that the consent was given freely. The GDPR does not preclude all incentives but the onus would be on the controller to demonstrate that consent was still freely given in all the circumstances. [Example 8] When downloading a lifestyle mobile app, the app asks for consent to access the phone’s accelerometer. This is not necessary for the app to work, but it is useful for the controller who wishes to learn more about the movements and activity levels of its users. When the user later revokes that consent, she finds out that the app now only works to a limited extent. This is an example of detriment as meant in Recital 42, which means that consent was never validly obtained (and thus, the controller needs to delete all personal data about users’ movements collected this way). [Example 9] A data subject subscribes to a fashion retailer’s newsletter with general discounts. The retailer asks the data subject for consent to collect more data on shopping preferences to tailor the offers to his or her preferences based on shopping history or a questionnaire that is voluntary to fill out. When the data subject later revokes consent, he or she will receive non-personalised fashion discounts again. This does not amount to detriment as only the permissible incentive was lost. [Example: 10] A fashion magazine offers readers access to buy new make-up products before the official launch. The products will shortly be made available for sale, but readers of this magazine are offered an exclusive preview of these products. In order to enjoy this benefit, people must give their postal address and agree to subscription on the mailing list of the magazine. The postal address is necessary for shipping and the mailing list is used for sending commercial offers for products such as cosmetics or t-shirts year round. The company explains that the data on the mailing list will only be used for sending merchandise and paper advertising by the magazine itself and is not to be shared with any other organisation. In case the reader does not want to disclose their address for this reason, there is no detriment, as the products will be available to them anyway. 3.2.Specific Article 6(1)(a) confirms that the consent of the data subject must be given in relation to “one or more specific” purposes and that a data subject has a choice in relation to each of them.26 The requirement that consent must be ‘specific’ aims to ensure a degree of user control and transparency for the data subject. This requirement has not been changed by the GDPR and remains closely linked to the requirement of 'informed' consent. At the same time it must be interpreted in line with the requirement for 'granularity' to obtain 'free' consent.27 In sum, to comply with the element of 'specific' the controller must apply: (i) Purpose specification as a safeguard against function creep, (ii) Granularity in consent requests, and (iii) Clear separation of information related to obtaining consent for data processing activities from information about other matters. 26 Further guidance on the determination of ‘purposes’ can be found in Opinion 3/2013 on purpose limitation (WP 203). 27 Recital 43 GDPR states that separate consent for different processing operations will be needed wherever appropriate. Granular consent options should be provided to allow data subjects to consent separately to separate purposes.
- 12. 12 Ad. (i): Pursuantto Article 5(1)(b) GDPR, obtaining valid consent is always preceded by the determination of a specific, explicit and legitimate purpose for the intended processing activity.28 The need for specific consent in combination with the notion of purpose limitation in Article 5(1)(b) functions as a safeguard against the gradual widening or blurring of purposes for which data is processed, after a data subject has agreed to the initial collection of the data. This phenomenon, also known as function creep, is a risk for data subjects, as it may result in unanticipated use of personal data by the controller or by third parties and in loss of data subject control. If the controller is relying on Article 6(1)(a), data subjects must always give consent for a specific processing purpose.29 In line with the concept of purpose limitation, Article 5(1)(b) and recital 32, consent may cover different operations, as long as these operations serve the same purpose. It goes without saying that specific consent can only be obtained when data subjects are specifically informed about the intended purposes of data use concerning them. Notwithstanding the provisions on compatibility of purposes, consent must be specific to the purpose. Data subjects will give their consent with the understanding that they are in control and their data will only be processed for those specified purposes. If a controller processes data based on consent and wishes to process the data for another purpose, too, that controller needs to seek additional consent for this other purpose unless there is another lawful basis which better reflects the situation. [Example 11] A cable TV network collects subscribers’ personal data, based on their consent, to present them with personal suggestions for new movies they might be interested in based on their viewing habits. After a while, the TV network decides it would like to enable third parties to send (or display) targeted advertising on the basis of the subscriber’s viewing habits. Given this new purpose, new consent is needed. Ad. (ii): Consent mechanisms must not only be granular to meet the requirement of 'free', but also to meet the element of 'specific'. This means, a controller that seeks consent for various different purposes should provide a separate opt-in for each purpose, to allow users to give specific consent for specific purposes. Ad. (iii): Lastly, controllers should provide specific information with each separate consent request about the data that are processed for each purpose, in order to make data subjects aware of the impact of the different choices they have. Thus, data subjects are enabled to give specific consent. This issue overlaps with the requirement that controllers must provide clear information, as discussed in paragraph 3.3. below. 3.3. Informed The GDPR reinforces the requirement that consent must be informed. Based on Article 5 of the GDPR, the requirement for transparency is one of the fundamental principles, closely related to the 28 See WP 29 Opinion 3/2013 on purpose limitation (WP 203), p. 16, : “For these reasons, a purpose that is vague or general, such as for instance 'improving users' experience', 'marketing purposes', 'IT-security purposes' or 'future research' will - without more detail - usually not meet the criteria of being ‘specific’.” 29 This is consistent with WP29 Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), for example on p. 17.
- 13. 13 principles of fairnessand lawfulness. Providing information to data subjects prior to obtaining their consent is essential in order to enable them to make informed decisions, understand what they are agreeing to, and for example exercise their right to withdraw their consent. If the controller does not provide accessible information, user control becomes illusory and consent will be an invalid basis for processing. The consequence of not complying with the requirements for informed consent is that consent will be invalid and the controller may be in breach of Article 6 of the GDPR. 3.3.1. Minimum content requirements for consent to be ‘informed’ For consent to be informed, it is necessary to inform the data subject of certain elements that are crucial to make a choice. Therefore, WP29 is of the opinion that at least the following information is required for obtaining valid consent: (i) the controller’s identity, 30 (ii) the purpose of each of the processing operations for which consent is sought,31 (iii) what (type of) data will be collected and used, 32 (iv) the existence of the right to withdraw consent,33 (v) information about the use of the data for automated decision-making in accordance with Article 22 (2)(c)34 where relevant, and (vi) on the possible risks of data transfers due to absence of an adequacy decision and of appropriate safeguards as described in Article 46.35 With regard to item (i) and (iii), WP29 notes that in a case where the consent sought is to be relied upon by multiple (joint) controllers or if the data is to be transferred to or processed by other controllers who wish to rely on the original consent, these organisations should all be named. Processors do not need to be named as part of the consent requirements, although to comply with Articles 13 and 14 of the GDPR, controllers will need to provide a full list of recipients or categories of recipients including processors. To conclude, WP29 notes that depending on the circumstances and context of a case, more information may be needed to allow the data subject to genuinely understand the processing operations at hand. 3.3.2. How to provide information The GDPR does not prescribe the form or shape in which information must be provided in order to fulfil the requirement of informed consent. This means valid information may be presented in various ways, such as written or oral statements, or audio or video messages. However, the GDPR 30 See also Recital 42 GDPR: “ […]For consent to be informed, the data subject should be aware at least of the identity of the controller and the purposes of the processing for which the personal data are intended.[…].” 31 Again, see Recital 42 GDPR 32 See also WP29 Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187) pp.19-20 33 See Article 7(3) GDPR 34 See also WP29 Guidelines on Automated individual decision-making and Profiling for the purposes of Regulation 2016/679 (WP251), paragraph IV.B, p. 20 onwards. 35 Pursuant to Article 49 (1)(a), specific information is required about the absence of safeguards described in Article 46, when explicit consent is sought. See also WP29 Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187)p. 19
- 14. 14 puts several requirementsfor informed consent in place, predominantly in Article 7(2) and Recital 32. This leads to a higher standard for the clarity and accessibility of the information. When seeking consent, controllers should ensure that they use clear and plain language in all cases. This means a message should be easily understandable for the average person and not only for lawyers. Controllers cannot use long privacy policies that are difficult to understand or statements full of legal jargon. Consent must be clear and distinguishable from other matters and provided in an intelligible and easily accessible form. This requirement essentially means that information relevant for making informed decisions on whether or not to consent may not be hidden in general terms and conditions.36 A controller must ensure that consent is provided on the basis of information that allows the data subjects to easily identify who the controller is and to understand what they are agreeing to. The controller must clearly describe the purpose for data processing for which consent is requested.37 Other specific guidance on the accessibility has been provided in the WP29 guidelines on transparency. If consent is to be given by electronic means, the request must be clear and concise. Layered and granular information can be an appropriate way to deal with the two-fold obligation of being precise and complete on the one hand and understandable on the other hand. A controller must assess what kind of audience it is that provides personal data to their organisation. For example, in case the targeted audience includes data subjects that are underage, the controller is expected to make sure information is understandable for minors.38 After identifying their audience, controllers must determine what information they should provide and, subsequently how they will present the information to data subjects. Article 7(2) addresses pre-formulated written declarations of consent which also concern other matters. When consent is requested as part of a (paper) contract, the request for consent should be clearly distinguishable from the other matters. If the paper contract includes many aspects that are unrelated to the question of consent to the use of personal data, the issue of consent should be dealt with in a way that clearly stands out, or in a separate document. Likewise, if consent is requested by electronic means, the consent request has to be separate and distinct, it cannot simply be a paragraph within terms and conditions, pursuant to Recital 32.39 To accommodate for small screens or situations with restricted room for information, a layered way of presenting information can be considered, where appropriate, to avoid excessive disturbance of user experience or product design. 36 The declaration of consent must be named as such. Drafting, such as “I know that…” does not meet the requirement of clear language. 37 See Articles 4(11) and 7(2) GDPR. 38 See also Recital 58 regarding information understandable for children. 39 See also Recital 42 and Directive 93/13/EC, notably Article 5 (plain intelligible language and in case of doubt, the interpretation will be in favour of consumer) and Article 6 (invalidity of unfair terms, contract continues to exist without these terms only if still sensible, otherwise the whole contract is invalid).
- 15. 15 A controller thatrelies on consent of the data subject must also deal with the separate information duties laid down in Articles 13 and 14 in order to be compliant with the GDPR. In practice, compliance with the information duties and compliance with the requirement of informed consent may lead to an integrated approach in many cases. However, this section is written in the understanding that valid “informed” consent can exist, even when not all elements of Articles 13 and/or 14 are mentioned in the process of obtaining consent (these points should of course be mentioned in other places, such as the privacy notice of a company). WP29 has issued separate guidelines on the requirement of transparency. [Example 12] Company X is a controller that received complaints that it is unclear to data subjects for what purposes of data use they are asked to consent to. The company sees the need to verify whether its information in the consent request is understandable for data subjects. X organises voluntary test panels of specific categories of its customers and presents new updates of its consent information to these test audiences before communicating it externally. The selection of the panel respects the principle of independence and is made on the basis of standards ensuring a representative, non-biased outcome. The panel receives a questionnaire and indicates what they understood of the information and how they would score it in terms of understandable and relevant information. The controller continues testing until the panels indicate that the information is understandable. X draws up a report of the test and keeps this available for future reference. This example shows a possible way for X to demonstrate that data subjects were receiving clear information before consenting to personal data processing by X. [Example 13] A company engages in data processing on the basis of consent. The company uses a layered privacy notice that includes a consent request. The company discloses all basic details of the controller and the data processing activities envisaged.40 However, the company does not indicate how their data protection officer can be contacted in the first information layer of the notice. For the purposes of having a valid lawful basis as meant in Article 6, this controller obtained valid “informed” consent, even when the contact details of the data protection officer have not been communicated to the data subject (in the first information layer), pursuant to Article 13(1)(b) or 14(1)(b) GDPR. 3.4.Unambiguous indication of wishes The GDPR is clear that consent requires a statement from the data subject or a clear affirmative act which means that it must always be given through an active motion or declaration. It must be obvious that the data subject has consented to the particular processing. Article 2(h) of Directive 95/46/EC described consent as an “indication of wishes by which the data subject signifies his agreement to personal data relating to him being processed”. Article 4(11) GDPR builds on this definition, by clarifying that valid consent requires an unambiguous indication by means of a statement or by a clear affirmative action, in line with previous guidance issued by the WP29. 40 Note that when the identity of the controller or the purpose of the processing is not apparent from the first information layer of the layered privacy notice (and are located in further sub-layers), it will be difficult for the data controller to demonstrate that the data subject has given informed consent, unless the data controller can show that the data subject in question accessed that information prior to giving consent.
- 16. 16 A “clear affirmativeact” means that the data subject must have taken a deliberate action to consent to the particular processing.41 Recital 32 sets out additional guidance on this. Consent can be collected through a written or (a recorded) oral statement, including by electronic means. Perhaps the most literal way to fulfil the criterion of a “written statement” is to make sure a data subject writes in a letter or types an email to the controller explaining what exactly he/she agrees to. However, this is often not realistic. Written statements can come in many shapes and sizes that could be compliant with the GDPR. Without prejudice to existing (national) contract law, consent can be obtained through a recorded oral statement, although due note must be taken of the information available to the data subject, prior to the indication of consent. The use of pre-ticked opt-in boxes is invalid under the GDPR. Silence or inactivity on the part of the data subject, as well as merely proceeding with a service cannot be regarded as an active indication of choice. [Example 14] When installing software, the application asks the data subject for consent to use non-anonymised crash reports to improve the software. A layered privacy notice providing the necessary information accompanies the request for consent. By actively ticking the optional box stating, “I consent”, the user is able to validly perform a ´clear affirmative act´ to consent to the processing. A controller must also beware that consent cannot be obtained through the same motion as agreeing to a contract or accepting general terms and conditions of a service. Blanket acceptance of general terms and conditions cannot be seen as a clear affirmative action to consent to the use of personal data. The GDPR does not allow controllers to offer pre-ticked boxes or opt-out constructions that require an intervention from the data subject to prevent agreement (for example ‘opt-out boxes’).42 When consent is to be given following a request by electronic means, the request for consent should not be unnecessarily disruptive to the use of the service for which the consent is provided.43 An active affirmative motion by which the data subject indicates consent can be necessary when a less infringing or disturbing modus would result in ambiguity. Thus, it may be necessary that a consent request interrupts the use experience to some extent to make that request effective. 41 See Commission Staff Working Paper, Impact Assessment, Annex 2, p. 20 and also pp. 105-106: “As also pointed out in the opinion adopted by WP29 on consent, it seems essential to clarify that valid consent requires the use of mechanisms that leave no doubt of the data subject’s intention to consent, while making clear that – in the context of the on-line environment – the use of default options which the data subject is required to modify in order to reject the processing ('consent based on silence') does not in itself constitute unambiguous consent. This would give individuals more control over their own data, whenever processing is based on his/her consent. As regards impact on data controllers, this would not have a major impact as it solely clarifies and better spells out the implications of the current Directive in relation to the conditions for a valid and meaningful consent from the data subject. In particular, to the extent that 'explicit' consent would clarify – by replacing "unambiguous" – the modalities and quality of consent and that it is not intended to extend the cases and situations where (explicit) consent should be used as a ground for processing, the impact of this measure on data controllers is not expected to be major.” 42 See Article 7(2). See also Working Document 02/2013 on obtaining consent for cookies (WP 208), pp. 3-6. 43 See Recital 32 GDPR.
- 17. 17 However, within therequirements of the GDPR, controllers have the liberty to develop a consent flow that suits their organisation. In this regard, physical motions can be qualified as a clear affirmative action in compliance with the GDPR. Controllers should design consent mechanisms in ways that are clear to data subjects. Controllers must avoid ambiguity and must ensure that the action by which consent is given can be distinguished from other actions. Therefore, merely continuing the ordinary use of a website is not conduct from which one can infer an indication of wishes by the data subject to signify his or her agreement to a proposed processing operation. [Example 15] Swiping a bar on a screen, waiving in front of a smart camera, turning a smartphone around clockwise, or in a figure eight motion may be options to indicate agreement, as long as clear information is provided, and it is clear that the motion in question signifies agreement to a specific request (e.g. if you swipe this bar to the left, you agree to the use of information X for purpose Y. Repeat the motion to confirm). The controller must be able to demonstrate that consent was obtained this way and data subjects must be able to withdraw consent as easily as it was given. [Example 16] Scrolling down or swiping through a website will not satisfy the requirement of a clear and affirmative action. This is because the alert that continuing to scroll will constitute consent may be difficult to distinguish and/or may be missed when a data subject is quickly scrolling through large amounts of text and such an action is not sufficiently unambiguous. In the digital context, many services need personal data to function, hence, data subjects receive multiple consent requests that need answers through clicks and swipes every day. This may result in a certain degree of click fatigue: when encountered too many times, the actual warning effect of consent mechanisms is diminishing. This results in a situation where consent questions are no longer read. This is a particular risk to data subjects, as, typically, consent is asked for actions that are in principle unlawful without their consent. The GDPR places upon controllers the obligation to develop ways to tackle this issue. An often-mentioned example to do this in the online context is to obtain consent of Internet users via their browser settings. Such settings should be developed in line with the conditions for valid consent in the GDPR, as for instance that the consent shall be granular for each of the envisaged purposes and that the information to be provided, should name the controllers. In any event, consent must always be obtained before the controller starts processing personal data for which consent is needed. WP29 has consistently held in previous opinions that consent should be given prior to the processing activity.44 Although the GDPR does not literally prescribe in Article 4(11) that consent must be given prior to the processing activity, this is clearly implied. The heading of Article 6(1) and the wording “has given” in Article 6(1)(a) support this interpretation. It follows logically from Article 6 and Recital 40 that a valid lawful basis must be present before 44 WP29 has consistently held this position since Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), pp. 30-31.
- 18. 18 starting a dataprocessing. Therefore, consent should be given prior to the processing activity. In principle, it can be sufficient to ask for a data subject’s consent once. However, controllers do need to obtain a new and specific consent if purposes for data processing change after consent was obtained or if an additional purpose is envisaged. 4. Obtaining explicit consent Explicit consent is required in certain situations where serious data protection risk emerge, hence, where a high level of individual control over personal data is deemed appropriate. Under the GDPR, explicit consent plays a role in Article 9 on the processing of special categories of data, the provisions on data transfers to third countries or international organisations in the absence of adequate safeguards in Article 4945 , and in Article 22 on automated individual decision-making, including profiling.46 The GDPR prescribes that a “statement or clear affirmative action” is a prerequisite for ‘regular’ consent. As the ‘regular’ consent requirement in the GDPR is already raised to a higher standard compared to the consent requirement in Directive 95/46/EC, it needs to be clarified what extra efforts a controller should undertake in order to obtain the explicit consent of a data subject in line with the GDPR. The term explicit refers to the way consent is expressed by the data subject. It means that the data subject must give an express statement of consent. An obvious way to make sure consent is explicit would be to expressly confirm consent in a written statement. Where appropriate, the controller could make sure the written statement is signed by the data subject, in order to remove all possible doubt and potential lack of evidence in the future.47 However, such a signed statement is not the only way to obtain explicit consent and, it cannot be said that the GDPR prescribes written and signed statements in all circumstances that require valid explicit consent. For example, in the digital or online context, a data subject may be able to issue the required statement by filling in an electronic form, by sending an email, by uploading a scanned document carrying the signature of the data subject, or by using an electronic signature. In theory, the use of oral statements can also be sufficiently express to obtain valid explicit consent, however, it may be difficult to prove for the controller that all conditions for valid explicit consent were met when the statement was recorded. 45 According to Article 49 (1)(a) GDPR, explicit consent can lift the ban on data transfers to countries without adequate levels of data protection law. Also note Working document on a common interpretation of Article 26(1) of Directive 95/46/EC of 24 October 1995 (WP 114), p. 11, where WP29 has indicated that consent for data transfers that occur periodically or on an on-going basis is inappropriate. 46 In Article 22, the GDPR introduces provisions to protect data subjects against decision-making based solely on automated processing, including profiling. Decisions made on this basis are allowed under certain legal conditions. Consent plays a key role in this protection mechanism, as Article 22(2)(c) GDPR makes clear that a controller may proceed with automated decision making, including profiling, that may significantly affect the individual, with the data subject’s explicit consent. WP29 have produced separate guidelines on this issue: WP29 Guidelines on Automated decision-making and Profiling for the purposes of Regulation 2016/679, 3 October 2017 (WP 251). 47 See also WP29 Opinion 15/2011, on the definition of consent (WP 187), p. 25.
- 19. 19 An organisation mayalso obtain explicit consent through a telephone conversation, provided that the information about the choice is fair, intelligible and clear, and it asks for a specific confirmation from the data subject (e.g. pressing a button or providing oral confirmation). [Example 17] A data controller may also obtain explicit consent from a visitor to its website by offering an explicit consent screen that contains Yes and No check boxes, provided that the text clearly indicates the consent, for instance “I, hereby, consent to the processing of my data”, and not for instance, “It is clear to me that my data will be processed”. It goes without saying that the conditions for informed consent as well as the other conditions for obtaining valid consent should be met. [Example 18] A clinic for cosmetic surgery seeks explicit consent from a patient to transfer his medical record to an expert whose second opinion is asked on the condition of the patient. The medical record is a digital file. Given the specific nature of the information concerned, the clinic asks for an electronic signature of the data subject to obtain valid explicit consent and to be able to demonstrate that explicit consent was obtained.48 Two stage verification of consent can also be a way to make sure explicit consent is valid. For example, a data subject receives an email notifying them of the controller’s intent to process a record containing medical data. The controller explains in the email that he asks for consent for the use of a specific set of information for a specific purpose. If the data subjects agrees to the use of this data, the controller asks him or her for an email reply containing the statement ‘I agree’. After the reply is sent, the data subject receives a verification link that must be clicked, or an SMS message with a verification code, to confirm agreement. Article 9(2) does not recognize “necessary for the performance of a contract” as an exception to the general prohibition to process special categories of data. Therefore controllers and Member States that deal with this situation should explore the specific exceptions in Article 9(2) subparagraphs (b) to (j). Should none of the exceptions (b) to (j) apply, obtaining explicit consent in accordance with the conditions for valid consent in the GDPR remains the only possible lawful exception to process such data. [Example 19] An airline company, Holiday Airways, offers an assisted travelling service for passengers that cannot travel unassisted, for example due to a disability. A customer books a flight from Amsterdam to Budapest and requests travel assistance to be able to board the plane. Holiday Airways requires her to provide information on her health condition to be able to arrange the appropriate services for her (hence, there are many possibilities e.g. wheelchair on the arrival gate, or an assistant travelling with her from A to B.) Holiday Airways asks for explicit consent to process the health data of this customer for the purpose of arranging the requested travel assistance. -The data processed on the basis of consent should be necessary for the requested service. Moreover, flights to Budapest remain available without travel assistance. Please note that since that data are necessary for the provision of the requested service, Article 7 (4) does not apply. [Example 20] A successful company is specialised in providing custom-made ski- and snowboard goggles, and other types of customised eyewear for outdoors sports. The idea is that people could wear these without their own glasses on. The company receives orders at a central point and delivers products from a single location all across the EU. 48 This example is without prejudice to EU Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market.
- 20. 20 In order tobe able to provide its customised products to customers who are short-sighted, this controller requests consent for the use of information on customers’ eye condition. Customers provide the necessary health data, such as their prescription data online when they place their order. Without this, it is not possible to provide the requested customized eyewear. The company also offers series of goggles with standardized correctional values. Customers that do not wish to share health data could opt for the standard versions. Therefore, an explicit consent under Article 9 is required and consent can be considered to be freely given. 5. Additional conditions for obtaining valid consent The GDPR introduces requirements for controllers to make additional arrangements to ensure they obtain, and maintain and are able to demonstrate, valid consent. Article 7 of the GDPR sets out these additional conditions for valid consent, with specific provisions on keeping records of consent and the right to easily withdraw consent. Article 7 also applies to consent referred to in other articles of GDPR, e.g. Articles 8 and 9. Guidance on the additional requirement to demonstrate valid consent and on withdrawal of consent is provided below. 5.1.Demonstrate consent In Article 7(1), the GDPR clearly outlines the explicit obligation of the controller to demonstrate a data subject's consent. The burden of proof will be on the controller, according to Article 7(1). Recital 42 states: “Where processing is based on the data subject's consent, the controller should be able to demonstrate that the data subject has given consent to the processing operation.” Controllers are free to develop methods to comply with this provision in a way that is fitting in their daily operations. At the same time, the duty to demonstrate that valid consent has been obtained by a controller, should not in itself lead to excessive amounts of additional data processing. This means that controllers should have enough data to show a link to the processing (to show consent was obtained) but they shouldn’t be collecting any more information than necessary. It is up to the controller to prove that valid consent was obtained from the data subject. The GDPR does not prescribe exactly how this must be done. However, the controller must be able to prove that a data subject in a given case has consented. As long as a data processing activity in question lasts, the obligation to demonstrate consent exists. After the processing activity ends, proof of consent should be kept no longer then strictly necessary for compliance with a legal obligation or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, in accordance with Article 17(3)(b) and (e). For instance, the controller may keep a record of consent statements received, so he can show how consent was obtained, when consent was obtained and the information provided to the data subject at the time shall be demonstrable. The controller shall also be able to show that the data subject was informed and the controller´s workflow met all relevant criteria for a valid consent. The rationale behind this obligation in the GDPR is that controllers must be accountable with regard to obtaining valid consent from data subjects and the consent mechanisms they have put in place. For example, in an online context, a controller could retain information on the session in which consent was expressed, together with documentation of the consent workflow at the time of the session, and a
- 21. 21 copy of theinformation that was presented to the data subject at that time. It would not be sufficient to merely refer to a correct configuration of the respective website. [Example 21] A hospital sets up a scientific research programme, called project X, for which dental records of real patients are necessary. Participants are recruited via telephone calls to patients that voluntarily agreed to be on a list of candidates that may be approached for this purpose. The controller seeks explicit consent from the data subjects for the use of their dental record. Consent is obtained during a phone call by recording an oral statement of the data subject in which the data subject confirms that they agree to the use of their data for the purposes of project X. There is no specific time limit in the GDPR for how long consent will last. How long consent lasts will depend on the context, the scope of the original consent and the expectations of the data subject. If the processing operations change or evolve considerably then the original consent is no longer valid. If this is the case, then new consent needs to be obtained. WP29 recommends as a best practice that consent should be refreshed at appropriate intervals. Providing all the information again helps to ensure the data subject remains well informed about how their data is being used and how to exercise their rights.49 5.2.Withdrawal of consent Withdrawal of consent is given a prominent place in the GDPR. The provisions and recitals on withdrawal of consent in the GDPR can be regarded as codification of the existing interpretation of this matter in WP29 Opinions.50 Article 7(3) of the GDPR prescribes that the controller must ensure that consent can be withdrawn by the data subject as easy as giving consent and at any given time. The GDPR does not say that giving and withdrawing consent must always be done through the same action. However, when consent is obtained via electronic means through only one mouse-click, swipe, or keystroke, data subjects must, in practice, be able to withdraw that consent equally as easily. Where consent is obtained through use of a service-specific user interface (for example, via a website, an app, a log-on account, the interface of an IoT device or by e-mail), there is no doubt a data subject must be able to withdraw consent via the same electronic interface, as switching to another interface for the sole reason of withdrawing consent would require undue effort. Furthermore, the data subject should be able to withdraw his/her consent without detriment. This means, inter alia, that a controller must make withdrawal of consent possible free of charge or without lowering service levels.51 49 See WP29 guidelines on transparency. [Citation to be finalized when available] 50 WP29 has discussed this subject in their Opinion on consent (see Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), pp. 9, 13, 20, 27 and 32-33) and, inter alia, their Opinion on the use of location data. (see Opinion 5/2005 on the use of location data with a view to providing value-added services (WP 115), p. 7). 51 See also opinion WP29 Opinion 4/2010 on the European code of conduct of FEDMA for the use of personal data in direct marketing (WP 174) and the Opinion on the use of location data with a view to providing value-added services (WP 115).
- 22. 22 [Example 22] Amusic festival sells tickets through an online ticket agent. With each online ticket sale, consent is requested in order to use contact details for marketing purposes. To indicate consent for this purpose, customers can select either No or Yes. The controller informs customers that they have the possibility to withdraw consent. To do this, they could contact a call centre on business days between 8am and 5pm, free of charge. The controller in this example does not comply with article 7(3) of the GDPR. Withdrawing consent in this case requires a telephone call during business hours, this is more burdensome than the one mouse-click needed for giving consent through the online ticket vendor, which is open 24/7. The requirement of an easy withdrawal is described as a necessary aspect of valid consent in the GDPR. If the withdrawal right does not meet the GDPR requirements, then the consent mechanism of the controller does not comply with the GDPR. As mentioned in section 3.1 on the condition of informed consent, the controller must inform the data subject of the right to withdraw consent prior to actually giving consent, pursuant to Article 7(3) of the GDPR. Additionally, the controller must as part of the transparency obligation inform the data subjects on how to exercise their rights.52 As a general rule, if consent is withdrawn, all data processing operations that were based on consent and took place before the withdrawal of consent - and in accordance with the GDPR - remain lawful, however, the controller must stop the processing actions concerned. If there is no other lawful basis justifying the processing (e.g. further storage) of the data, they should be deleted by the controller.53 As mentioned earlier in these guidelines, it is very important that controllers assess the purposes for which data is actually processed and the lawful grounds on which it is based prior to collecting the data. Often companies need personal data for several purposes, and the processing is based on more than one lawful basis, e.g. customer data may be based on contract and consent. Hence, a withdrawal of consent does not mean a controller must erase data that are processed for a purpose that is based on the performance of the contract with the data subject. Controllers should therefore be clear from the outset about which purpose applies to each element of data and which lawful basis is being relied upon. Controllers have an obligation to delete data that was processed on the basis of consent once that consent is withdrawn, assuming that there is no other purpose justifying the continued retention.54 Besides this situation, covered in Article 17 (1)(b), an individual data subject may request erasure of other data concerning him that is processed on another lawful basis, e.g. on the basis of Article 6(1)(b).55 Controllers are obliged to assess whether continued processing of the data in question is appropriate, even in the absence of an erasure request by the data subject.56 52 Recital 39 GDPR, which refers to Articles 13 and 14 of that Regulation, states that “natural persons should be made aware of risks, rules, safeguards and rights in relation to the processing of personal data and how to exercise their rights in relation to such processing. 53 See Article 17(1)(b) and (3) GDPR. 54 In that case, the other purpose justifying the processing must have its own separate legal basis. This does not mean the controller can swap from consent to another lawful basis, see section 6 below. 55 See Article 17, including exceptions that may apply, and Recital 65 GDPR 56 See also Article 5 (1)(e) GDPR
- 23. 23 In cases wherethe data subject withdraws his/her consent and the controller wishes to continue to process the personal data on another lawful basis, they cannot silently migrate from consent (which is withdrawn) to this other lawful basis. Any change in the lawful basis for processing must be notified to a data subject in accordance with the information requirements in Articles 13 and 14 and under the general principle of transparency. 6. Interaction between consent and other lawful grounds in Article 6 GDPR Article 6 sets the conditions for a lawful personal data processing and describes six lawful bases on which a controller can rely. The application of one of these six bases must be established prior to the processing activity and in relation to a specific purpose.57 It is important to note here that if a controller chooses to rely on consent for any part of the processing, they must be prepared to respect that choice and stop that part of the processing if an individual withdraws consent. Sending out the message that data will be processed on the basis of consent, while actually some other lawful basis is relied on, would be fundamentally unfair to individuals. In other words, the controller cannot swap from consent to other lawful bases. For example, it is not allowed to retrospectively utilise the legitimate interest basis in order to justify processing, where problems have been encountered with the validity of consent. Because of the requirement to disclose the lawful basis which the controller is relying upon at the time of collection of personal data, controllers must have decided in advance of collection what the applicable lawful basis is. 7. Specific areas of concern in the GDPR 7.1.Children (Article 8) Compared to the current directive, the GDPR creates an additional layer of protection where personal data of vulnerable natural persons, especially children, are processed. Article 8 introduces additional obligations to ensure an enhanced level of data protection of children in relation to information society services. The reasons for the enhanced protection are specified in Recital 38: “ [...] they may be less aware of the risks, consequences and safeguards concerned and their rights in relation to the processing of personal data [...]” Recital 38 also states that “Such specific protection should, in particular, apply to the use of personal data of children for the purposes of marketing or creating personality or user profiles and the collection of personal data with regard to children when using services offered directly to a child.” The words ‘in particular’ indicate that the specific protection is not confined to marketing or profiling but includes the wider ‘collection of personal data with regard to children’. Article 8(1) states that where consent applies, in relation to the offer of information society services directly to a child, the processing of the personal data of a child shall be lawful where the child is at least 16 years old. Where the child is below the age of 16 years, such processing shall be lawful 57 Pursuant to Articles 13 (1)(c) and/or 14(1)(c), the controller must inform the data subject thereof.
- 24. 24 only if andto the extent that consent is given or authorised by the holder of parental responsibility over the child.58 Regarding the age limit of valid consent the GDPR provides flexibility, Member States can provide by law a lower age, but this age cannot be below 13 years. As mentioned in section 3.1. on informed consent, the information shall be understandable to the audience addressed by the controller, paying particular attention to the position of children. In order to obtain “informed consent” from a child, the controller must explain in language that is clear and plain for children how it intends to process the data it collects.59 If it is the parent that is supposed to consent, then a set of information may be required that allows adults to make an informed decision. It is clear from the foregoing that Article 8 shall only apply when the following conditions are met: • The processing is related to the offer of information society services directly to a child.60, 61 • The processing is based on consent. 7.1.1. Information society service To determine the scope of the term ‘information society service” in the GDPR, reference is made in Article 4(25) GDPR to Directive 2015/1535. While assessing the scope of this definition, WP29 also refers to case law of the ECJ.62 The ECJ held that information society services cover contracts and other services that are concluded or transmitted on-line. Where a service has two economically independent components, one being the online component, such as the offer and the acceptance of an offer in the context of the conclusion of a contract or the information relating to products or services, including marketing activities, this component is defined as an information society service, the other component being the physical delivery or distribution of goods is not covered by the notion of an information society service. The online delivery of a service would fall within the scope of the term information society service in Article 8 GDPR. 58 Without prejudice to the possibility of Member State law to derogate from the age limit, see Article 8(1). 59 Recital 58 GDPR re-affirms this obligation, in stating that, where appropriate, a controller should make sure the information provided is understandable for children. 60 According to Article 4(25) GDPR an information society service means a service as defined in point (b) of Article 1(1) of Directive 2015/1535: “(b) ‘service’ means any Information Society service, that is to say, any service normally provided for remuneration, at a distance, by electronic means and at the individual request of a recipient of services. For the purposes of this definition: (i) ‘at a distance’ means that the service is provided without the parties being simultaneously present; (ii) ‘by electronic means’ means that the service is sent initially and received at its destination by means of electronic equipment for the processing (including digital compression) and storage of data, and entirely transmitted, conveyed and received by wire, by radio, by optical means or by other electromagnetic means; (iii) ‘at the individual request of a recipient of services’ means that the service is provided through the transmission of data on individual request.” An indicative list of services not covered by this definition is set out in Annex I of the said Directive. See also Recital 18 of Directive 2000/31. 61 According to the UN Convention on the Protection of the Child, Article 1, “[…] a child means every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier,” see United Nations, General Assembly Resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989 (Convention on the Rights of the Child). 62 See European Court of Justice, 2 December 2010 Case C-108/09, (Ker-Optika), paragraphs 22 and 28. In relation to ‘composite services’, WP29 also refers to Case C-434/15 (Asociacion Profesional Elite Taxi v Uber Systems Spain SL), para 40, which states that an information society service forming an integral part of an overall service whose main component is not an information society service (in this case a transport service), must not be qualified as ‘an information society service’.
- 25. 25 7.1.2. Offered directlyto a child The inclusion of the wording ‘offered directly to a child’ indicates that Article 8 is intended to apply to some, not all information society services. In this respect, if an information society service provider makes it clear to potential users that it is only offering its service to persons aged 18 or over, and this is not undermined by other evidence (such as the content of the site or marketing plans) then the service will not be considered to be ‘offered directly to a child’ and Article 8 will not apply. 7.1.3. Age The GDPR specifies that “Member States may provide by law for a lower age for those purposes provided that such lower age is not below 13 years.” The controller must be aware of those different national laws, by taking into account the public targeted by its services. In particular it should be noted that a controller providing a cross-border service cannot always rely on complying with only the law of the Member State in which it has its main establishment but may need to comply with the respective national laws of each Member State in which it offers the information society service(s). This depends on whether a Member State chooses to use the place of main establishment of the controller as a point of reference in its national law, or the residence of the data subject. First of all the Member States shall consider the best interests of the child during making their choice. The Working Group encourages the Member States to search for a harmonized solution in this matter. When providing information society services to children on the basis of consent, controllers will be expected to make reasonable efforts to verify that the user is over the age of digital consent, and these measures should be proportionate to the nature and risks of the processing activities. If the users state that they are over the age of digital consent then the controller can carry out appropriate checks to verify that this statement is true. Although the need to undertake reasonable efforts to verify age is not explicit in the GDPR it is implicitly required, for if a child gives consent while not old enough to provide valid consent on their own behalf, then this will render the processing of data unlawful. If the user states that he/she is below the age of digital consent then the controller can accept this statement without further checks, but will need to go on to obtain parental authorisation and verify that the person providing that consent is a holder of parental responsibility. Age verification should not lead to excessive data processing. The mechanism chosen to verify the age of a data subject should involve an assessment of the risk of the proposed processing. In some low-risk situations, it may be appropriate to require a new subscriber to a service to disclose their year of birth or to fill out a form stating they are (not) a minor.63 If doubts arise the controller 63 Although this may not be a watertight solution in all cases, it is an example to deal with this provision
- 26. 26 should review theirage verification mechanisms in a given case and consider whether alternative checks are required.64 7.1.4. Children’s consent and parental responsibility Regarding the authorisation of a holder of parental responsibility, the GDPR does not specify practical ways to gather the parent’s consent or to establish that someone is entitled to perform this action.65 Therefore, the WP29 recommends the adoption of a proportionate approach, in line with Article 8(2) GDPR and Article 5(1)(c) GDPR (data minimisation). A proportionate approach may be to focus on obtaining a limited amount of information, such as contact details of a parent or guardian. What is reasonable, both in terms of verifying that a user is old enough to provide their own consent, and in terms of verifying that a person providing consent on behalf of a child is a holder of parental responsibility, may depend upon the risks inherent in the processing as well as the available technology. In low-risk cases, verification of parental responsibility via email may be sufficient. Conversely, in high-risk cases, it may be appropriate to ask for more proof, so that the controller is able to verify and retain the information pursuant to Article 7(1) GDPR.66 Trusted third party verification services may offer solutions which minimise the amount of personal data the controller has to process itself. [Example 23] An online gaming platform wants to make sure underage customers only subscribe to its services with the consent of their parents or guardians. The controller follows these steps: Step 1: ask the user to state whether they are under or over the age of 16 (or alternative age of digital consent) If the user states that they are under the age of digital consent: Step 2: service informs the child that a parent or guardian needs to consent or authorise the processing before the service is provided to the child. The user is requested to disclose the email address of a parent or guardian. Step 3: service contacts the parent or guardian and obtains their consent via email for processing and take reasonable steps to confirm that the adult has parental responsibility. Step 4: in case of complaints, the platform takes additional steps to verify the age of the subscriber. If the platform has met the other consent requirements, the platform can comply with the additional criteria of Article 8 GDPR by following these steps. The example shows that the controller can put itself in a position to show that reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that valid consent has been obtained, in relation to the services provided to a child. Article 8(2) particularly adds that “The controller shall make reasonable efforts to verify that consent is given or authorised by the holder of parental responsibility over the child, taking into consideration available technology.” 64 See WP29 Opinion 5/2009 on social networking services (WP 163). 65 WP 29 notes that it not always the case that the holder of parental responsibility is the natural parent of the child and that parental responsibility can be held by multiple parties which may include legal as well as natural persons. 66 For example, a parent or guardian could be asked to make a payment of €0,01 to the controller via a bank transaction, including a brief confirmation in the description line of the transaction that the bank account holder is a holder of parental responsibility over the user. Where appropriate, an alternative method of verification should be provided to prevent undue discriminatory treatment of persons that do not have a bank account.
- 27. 27 It is upto the controller to determine what measures are appropriate in a specific case. As a general rule, controllers should avoid verification solutions which themselves involve excessive collection of personal data. WP29 acknowledges that there may be cases where verification is challenging (for example where children providing their own consent have not yet established an ‘identity footprint’, or where parental responsibility is not easily checked. This can be taken into account when deciding what efforts are reasonable, but controllers will also be expected to keep their processes and the available technology under constant review. With regard to the data subject’s autonomy to consent to the processing of their personal data and have full control over the processing, consent by a holder of parental responsibility or authorized by a holder of parental responsibility for the processing of personal data of children can be confirmed, modified or withdrawn, once the data subject reaches the age of digital consent. In practice, this means that if the child does not take any action, consent given by a holder of parental responsibility or authorized by a holder of parental responsibility for the processing of personal data given prior to the age of digital consent, will remain a valid ground for processing. After reaching the age of digital consent, the child will have the possibility to withdraw the consent himself, in line with Article 7(3). In accordance with the principles of fairness and accountability, the controller must inform the child about this possibility.67 It is important to point out that in accordance with Recital 38, consent by a parent or guardian is not required in the context of preventive or counselling services offered directly to a child. For example the provision of child protection services offered online to a child by means of an online chat service do not require prior parental authorisation. Finally, the GDPR states that the rules concerning parental authorization requirements vis-à-vis minors shall not interfere with “the general contract law of Member States such as the rules on the validity, formation or effect of a contract in relation to a child”. Therefore, the requirements for valid consent for the use of data about children are part of a legal framework that must be regarded as separate from national contract law. Therefore, this guidance paper does not deal with the question whether it is lawful for a minor to conclude online contracts. Both legal regimes may apply simultaneously, and, the scope of the GDPR does not include harmonization of national provisions of contract law. 7.2. Scientific research The definition of scientific research purposes has substantial ramifications for the range of data processing activities a controller may undertake. The term ‘scientific research’ is not defined in the GDPR. Recital 159 states “(…) For the purposes of this Regulation, the processing of personal data for scientific research purposes should be interpreted in a broad manner. (…)”, however the WP29 67 Also, data subjects should be aware of the right to be forgotten as laid down in Article 17, which is in particular relevant for consent given when the data subject was still a child, see recital 63.
- 28. 28 considers the notionmay not be stretched beyond its common meaning and understands that ‘scientific research’ in this context means a research project set up in accordance with relevant sector-related methodological and ethical standards, in conformity with good practice. When consent is the legal basis for conducting research in accordance with the GDPR, this consent for the use of personal data should be distinguished from other consent requirements that serve as an ethical standard or procedural obligation. An example of such a procedural obligation, where the processing is based not on consent but on another legal basis, is to be found in the Clinical Trials Regulation. In the context of data protection law, the latter form of consent could be considered as an additional safeguard.68 At the same time, the GDPR does not restrict the application of Article 6 to consent alone, with regard to processing data for research purposes. As long as appropriate safeguards are in place, such as the requirements under Article 89(1), and the processing is fair, lawful, transparent and accords with data minimisation standards and individual rights, other lawful bases such as Article 6(1)(e) or (f) may be available.69 This also applies to special categories of data pursuant to the derogation of Article 9(2)(j).70 Recital 33 seems to bring some flexibility to the degree of specification and granularity of consent in the context of scientific research. Recital 33 states: “It is often not possible to fully identify the purpose of personal data processing for scientific research purposes at the time of data collection. Therefore, data subjects should be allowed to give their consent to certain areas of scientific research when in keeping with recognised ethical standards for scientific research. Data subjects should have the opportunity to give their consent only to certain areas of research or parts of research projects to the extent allowed by the intended purpose.” First, it should be noted that Recital 33 does not disapply the obligations with regard to the requirement of specific consent. This means that, in principle, scientific research projects can only include personal data on the basis of consent if they have a well-described purpose. For the cases where purposes for data processing within a scientific research project cannot be specified at the outset, Recital 33 allows as an exception that the purpose may be described at a more general level. Considering the strict conditions stated by Article 9 GDPR regarding the processing of special categories of data, WP29 notes that when special categories of data are processed on the basis of explicit consent, applying the flexible approach of Recital 33 will be subject to a stricter interpretation and requires a high degree of scrutiny. When regarded as a whole, the GDPR cannot be interpreted to allow for a controller to navigate around the key principle of specifying purposes for which consent of the data subject is asked. 68 See also Recital 161 of the GDPR. 69 Article 6(1)(c) may also be applicable for parts of the processing operations specifically required by law, such as gathering reliable and robust data following the protocol as approved by the Member State under the Clinical Trial Regulation. 70 Specific testing of medicinal products may take place on the basis of an EU or national law pursuant to Article 9(2)(i).
- 29. 29 When research purposescannot be fully specified, a controller must seek other ways to ensure the essence of the consent requirements are served best, for example, to allow data subjects to consent for a research purpose in more general terms and for specific stages of a research project that are already known to take place at the outset. As the research advances, consent for subsequent steps in the project can be obtained before that next stage begins. Yet, such a consent should still be in line with the applicable ethical standards for scientific research. Moreover, the controller may apply further safeguards in such cases. Article 89(1), for example, highlights the need for safeguards in data processing activities for scientific or historical or statistical purposes. These purposes “shall be subject to appropriate safeguards, in accordance with this regulation, for the rights and freedoms of data subject.” Data minimization, anonymisation and data security are mentioned as possible safeguards.71 Anonymisation is the preferred solution as soon as the purpose of the research can be achieved without the processing of personal data. Transparency is an additional safeguard when the circumstances of the research do not allow for a specific consent. A lack of purpose specification may be offset by information on the development of the purpose being provided regularly by controllers as the research project progresses so that, over time, the consent will be as specific as possible. When doing so, the data subject has at least a basic understanding of the state of play, allowing him/her to assess whether or not to use, for example, the right to withdraw consent pursuant to Article 7(3).72 Also, having a comprehensive research plan available for data subjects to take note of, before they consent could help to compensate a lack of purpose specification.73 This research plan should specify the research questions and working methods envisaged as clearly as possible. The research plan could also contribute to compliance with Article 7(1), as controllers need to show what information was available to data subjects at the time of consent in order to be able to demonstrate that consent is valid. It is important to recall that where consent is being used as the lawful basis for processing there must be a possibility for a data subject to withdraw that consent. WP29 notes that withdrawal of consent could undermine types scientific research that require data that can be linked to individuals, however the GDPR is clear that consent can be withdrawn and controllers must act upon this – there 71 See for example Recital 156. The processing of personal data for scientific purposes should also comply with other relevant legislation such as on clinical trials, see Recital 156, mentioning Regulation (EU) No 536/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on clinical trials on medicinal products for human use. See also WP29 Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187), p. 7: “Moreover, obtaining consent does not negate the controller's obligations under Article 6 with regard to fairness, necessity and proportionality, as well as data quality. For instance, even if the processing of personal data is based on the consent of the user, this would not legitimise the collection of data which is excessive in relation to a particular purpose.” […] As a principle, consent should not be seen as an exemption from the other data protection principles, but as a safeguard. It is primarily a ground for lawfulness, and it does not waive the application of other principles.” 72 Other transparency measures may also be relevant. When controllers engage in data processing for scientific purposes, while full information cannot be provided at the outset, they could designate a specific contact person for data subjects to address with questions. 73 Such a possibility can be found in Article 14(1) of the current Personal Data Act of Finland (Henkilötietolaki, 523/1999)
- 30. 30 is no exemptionto this requirement for scientific research. If a controller receives a withdrawal request, it must in principle delete the personal data straight away if it wishes to continue to use the data for the purposes of the research.74 7.3.Data subject’s rights If a data processing activity is based on a data subject’s consent, this will affect that individual’s rights. Data subjects may have the right to data portability (Article 20) when processing is based on consent. At the same time, the right to object (Article 21) does not apply when processing is based on consent, although the right to withdraw consent at any time may provide a similar outcome. Articles 16 to 20 of the GDPR indicate that (when data processing is based on consent), data subjects have the right to erasure when consent has been withdrawn and the rights to restriction, rectification and access.75 8. Consent obtained under Directive 95/46/EC Controllers that currently process data on the basis of consent in compliance with national data protection law are not automatically required to completely refresh all existing consent relations with data subjects in preparation for the GDPR. Consent which has been obtained to date continues to be valid in so far as it is in line with the conditions laid down in the GDPR. It is important for controllers to review current work processes and records in detail, before 25 May 2018, to be sure existing consents meet the GDPR standard (see Recital 171 of the GDPR76 ). In practice, the GDPR raises the bar with regard to implementing consent mechanisms and introduces several new requirements that require controllers to alter consent mechanisms, rather than rewriting privacy policies alone.77 For example, as the GDPR requires that a controller must be able to demonstrate that valid consent was obtained, all presumed consents of which no references are kept will automatically be below the consent standard of the GDPR and will need to be renewed. Likewise as the GDPR requires a “statement or a clear affirmative action”, all presumed consents that were based on a more implied form of action by the data subject (e.g. a pre-ticked opt-in box) will also not be apt to the GDPR standard of consent. 74 See also WP29 Opinion 05/2014 on "Anonymisation Techniques" (WP216). 75 In cases where certain data processing activities are restricted in accordance with Article 18, GDPR, consent of the data subject may be needed to lift restrictions. 76 Recital 171 GDPR states: “Directive 95/46/EC should be repealed by this Regulation. Processing already under way on the date of application of this Regulation should be brought into conformity with this Regulation within the period of two years after which this Regulation enters into force. Where processing is based on consent pursuant to Directive 95/46/EC, it is not necessary for the data subject to give his or her consent again if the manner in which the consent has been given is in line with the conditions of this Regulation, so as to allow the controller to continue such processing after the date of application of this Regulation. Commission decisions adopted and authorisations by supervisory authorities based on Directive 95/46/EC remain in force until amended, replaced or repealed.” 77 As indicated in the introduction, the GDPR provides further clarification and specification of the requirements for obtaining and demonstrating valid consent. Many of the new requirements build upon Opinion 15/2011 on consent.
- 31. 31 Furthermore, to beable to demonstrate that consent was obtained or to allow for more granular indications of the data subject’s wishes, operations and IT systems may need revision. Also, mechanisms for data subjects to withdraw their consent easily must be available and information about how to withdraw consent must be provided. If existing procedures for obtaining and managing consent do not meet the GDPR’s standards, controllers will need to obtain fresh GDPR- compliant consent. On the other hand, as not all elements named in Articles 13 and 14 must always be present as a condition for informed consent, the extended information obligations under the GDPR do not necessarily oppose the continuity of consent which has been granted before the GDPR enters into force (see page 15 above). Under Directive 95/46/EC, there was no requirement to inform data subjects of the basis upon which the processing was being conducted. If a controller finds that the consent previously obtained under the old legislation will not meet the standard of GDPR consent, then controllers must undertake action to comply with these standards, for example by refreshing consent in a GDPR-compliant way. Under the GDPR, it is not possible to swap between one lawful basis and another. If a controller is unable to renew consent in a compliant way and is also unable –as a one off situation- to make the transition to GDPR compliance by basing data processing on a different lawful basis while ensuring that continued processing is fair and accounted for, the processing activities must be stopped. In any event the controller needs to observe the principles of lawful, fair and transparent processing. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* END OF DOCUMENT *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*