Twitter faces GDPR probe over tracking query

Keumars Afifi-Sabet Read more October 17, 2018

Twitter is being investigated for a potential General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) breach after refusing to provide an academic with information about how he is tracked on the platform.

Twitter faces GDPR probe over tracking query

The social media network uses shortened t.co links as a way to track a handful of data points, including how many clicks longer links receive. They also help to curb the spread of malware and phishing attacks, the platform says.

Michael Veale, a researcher based at University College London (UCL), lodged a subject access request (SAR) to find out whether these links track more data on users than Twitter lets on.

But according to Fortune, the social media company denied his request on the grounds that providing this information would take “disproportionate effort”.

Veale then escalated the issue with a complaint to the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), which confirmed in a letter last week that it would investigate whether Twitter’s refusal to fulfill the request constitutes a GDPR breach.

The DPC also said it would consider engaging the European Data Protection Board, an independent advisory body that works to apply the consistent application of GDPR across the continent.

“The DPC has initiated a formal statutory inquiry in respect of your complaint,” the regulator wrote.

“The inquiry will examine whether or not Twitter has discharged its obligations in connection with the subject matter of your complaint and determine whether or not any provisions of the GDPR or the [Irish Data Protection] Act have been contravened by Twitter in this respect.”

Ireland’s data watchdog is handling the case under GDPR’s One Stop Shop principle, in which a lead investigator is nominated to investigate cross-border breaches.

The rights of data subjects have considerably strengthened since GDPR came into force on 25 May. Under the new regulations, organisations are required to provide any data held on their users or customers within 30 days, subject to exceptions in the law.

These subject access requests (SARs) also operate in tandem with the right to be forgotten, which gives people the right to request that data held on them by any organisation is deleted, under reasonable circumstances.

Research published last month showed just 35% of EU-based companies are fulfilling SARs within the legal 30-day timeframe, which is true for 50% of firms based outside of Europe.

This case is being handled under GDPR since the request was made after the new regulations came into force.