noyb ranks EU lawmakers on privacy amendments for Digital Omnibus reform
The privacy group analyzed over 1,000 amendments to reveal which MEPs support weakening data protections and which defend them.
Key points
- noyb analyzed more than 1,000 amendments tabled by MEPs for the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive.
- The analysis reveals a split between lawmakers defending privacy rights and those favoring Big Tech interests.
- A new website allows citizens to search for their MEP’s stance on the Digital Omnibus proposals.
The privacy advocacy group noyb has published a ranking of European Parliament members based on their proposed amendments to EU privacy laws. The organization analyzed more than 1,000 amendments tabled by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) regarding the General Data Protection Regulation and the ePrivacy Directive. This effort aims to clarify which legislators support maintaining current protections and which favor reducing them during the ongoing Digital Omnibus reform process.
According to noyb, the analysis shows that many MEPs are in favor of stripping people of their privacy rights. Conversely, other lawmakers continue to push back against these changes. The group states that lobby groups have influenced the European Commission, many Member States, and numerous MEPs to undermine existing protections, primarily benefiting Big Tech and artificial intelligence companies. The official goal of the Digital Omnibus is simplification for businesses while maintaining high protection levels, but noyb argues the reality is different.
Legislative Context and Loopholes
The European Union is currently changing its core privacy laws through the Digital Omnibus package. The European Commission’s original proposal included plans to limit the scope of the GDPR so that online advertising would no longer be covered. It also proposed allowing the use of personal data for AI without consent. EU Member States have largely agreed to add these significant loopholes to the GDPR. This leaves the European Parliament as the primary body capable of preventing the undermining of the GDPR.
noyb sorted and graded the amendments based on whether they supported more or less privacy and simplification. The results are published on the website gdpr-omnibus.eu. This platform provides a comprehensive grading of every MEP who submitted amendments. Users can search for specific lawmakers by their country and political group to see their positions. Max Schrems, Chairman of noyb, stated that while many parliamentarians claim to uphold rights, many do the opposite. He said the organization is bringing these intentions to the surface.
Who Is Affected
The outcome of these legislative changes directly impacts citizens and journalists in the European Union. According to noyb, it is almost impossible for the public to find out exactly what MEPs are doing regarding these amendments without such analysis. The ranking highlights the responsibility of the EU Parliament to save the GDPR from being undermined. By identifying which legislators work on behalf of the people and which work on behalf of big tech, the group aims to increase transparency. The website allows individuals to look up their specific MEP to determine if they want to reduce privacy protections.
What should you do?
Citizens and organizations concerned about data privacy should review the rankings to understand their representatives' positions. The noyb website provides a searchable database of MEPs and their amendments. Users can filter by political group and country to find specific legislators. This information helps stakeholders identify who supports strong privacy rights and who favors deregulation for technology companies. Monitoring these legislative developments is crucial as the Digital Omnibus progresses through the EU institutions.
What to do and how to stay safe: noyb
- Visit gdpr-omnibus.eu to search for your MEP by country and political group.
- Review the grading of amendments to see if your representative supports privacy or deregulation.
- Contact your MEP to express your position on the Digital Omnibus proposals.
- Monitor official EU communications for updates on the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive reforms.
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Digital Omnibus?
It is a reform package currently changing core EU privacy laws, officially intended to simplify regulations for businesses while maintaining high protection levels.
How many amendments did noyb analyze?
noyb analyzed more than 1,000 amendments tabled by MEPs for the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive.
Where can I find information about my MEP's stance?
You can find a comprehensive grading of every MEP on the website gdpr-omnibus.eu, searchable by country and political group.
