Top data protection officer criticizes tracking at Ricardo and TX Group
The auction platform Ricardo and the TX Group are to ensure transparency regarding data sharing and cross-platform tracking for the purpose of targeted advertising. They are also required to obtain valid consent. This is what the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner calls for in the conclusion of his report.
The cross-platform tracking led to the creation of personality profiles, and Ricardo members were not adequately informed about this tracking and the subsequent use of data for the purpose of targeted advertising, according to a statement issued by the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) on Wednesday.
The resulting violations of privacy would not have been able to justify the overriding private interests asserted by Ricardo and TX Group.
At the request of Ricardo and the TX Group, to which Tamedia also belongs, the data protection officer published a redacted version of his final report. According to the press release, both dispute the conclusions contained therein and describe the Edöb's recommendations as legally unfounded overall.
They take the view that the data transmitted to the TX Group does not constitute personal data. They also consider the recommendations of the data protection officer to be irrelevant, as they relate to a situation that no longer exists and a law that is no longer in force.
Edöb opened a fact-finding investigation in September 2017 and completed it in April of this year. This investigation was carried out under the old Data Protection Act. (SDA/swi)
