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Find out moreWelcome to the latest edition of Law Update titled “Rise of Generative AI.”
In this edition, we dive into the dynamic world of Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. TMT continues to play a vital role in positioning the region as an international business and social hub, driving significant growth and innovation.
Our focus in this Law Update is on the sector’s ongoing potential to advance and propel the region toward a more digital economy. We explore the benefits of embracing a digital transformation and how local authorities have responded by enhancing regulations to accommodate the evolving TMT landscape.
This edition covers a range of topics, including – the new Telecommunications & Information Technology Law in Saudi Arabia, the intricacies of trademarks in the Metaverse, and the legal challenges faced by the video game industry. Additionally, we take a regional perspective, discussing jurisdictions such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Bahrain to provide a comprehensive understanding of the TMT landscape.
We hope you thoroughly enjoy this packed issue of Law Update, filled with captivating articles that address key legal issues within a vital sector for the region.
Read the full editionAndrew Fawcett - Partner - Digital & Data
Roberto Lusardi - Senior Associate - Digital & Data
As you may well be aware, the European Union (EU) has introduced new legislation on the protection of personal data: the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect on May 25, 2018. Businesses in Europe have been frantically trying to get their houses in order so that their processing of personal data relating to identifiable natural persons is compliant with the new legal requirements. Because of the expanded territorial scope of the GDPR, businesses based outside the EU – including businesses in the Middle East – will need to comply with the GDPR in some circumstances.
Which non-EU businesses are caught under the GDPR?
The GDPR applies to non-EU entities that are ‘controllers’ and ‘processors’ processing personal data of individuals who are in the EU, if the processing activities relate to the:
GDPR application by way of targeting
There is no straightforward explanation as to what will be considered as the offering of goods or services to data subjects in the EU. A case-by-case analysis must be made. Generally, for the GDPR to be applicable by way of targeting, it is envisaged that there needs to be an active direction of activities towards individuals within the EU, rather than the mere availability of a website or online advertising to EU individuals.
The targeting of individuals in the EU would likely need to include additional factors such as the:
GDPR application by way of monitoring
In order for the GDPR to be applicable by way of monitoring, the behaviour and/or movement of individuals within the EU needs to be monitored. Again, this is determined on a case-by-case basis but can be undertaken or deemed to occur by:
For example, using website ‘cookies’ (such as targeting advertisement cookies) and social media plug-ins may constitute the monitoring of EU individuals.
GDPR indirect application to non-EU businesses
The GDPR provisions will also apply indirectly to non-EU businesses that have agreements under which they carry out data processing activities on behalf of an EU business.
An EU data controller is expressly required by the GDPR to have a contract with a data processor (whether or not the processor is located in the EU) that stipulates certain prescribed matters, including that the processor:
Consequently, non-EU businesses will be expected to agree to contracts with EU businesses that contain such terms and conditions concerning any data processing (often known as ‘Data Processing Agreements’).
What obligations do non-EU businesses have in relation to international transfers of data?
The GDPR limits the transfer of personal data to countries that are outside the European Economic Area (EEA) unless particular conditions are met. The restrictions are intended to prevent the level of protection provided by the GDPR from being ‘watered down’ or avoided when personal data is transferred outside the EEA to other countries whose laws do not offer the same level of protection.
Under the GDPR, personal data can only be transferred to country outside of the EEA if:
An adequacy decision is a decision made by the European Commission that determines that there is an adequate level of protection in a specific non-EEA country, and that transfer of personal data to such country can be made without the need for any further authorisation or safeguards. A finding of adequacy means the European Commission is satisfied that appropriate standards of data protection will be met when personal data is transferred to that other country.
Even where there is not an applicable adequacy decision, the transfer personal data outside the EEA may still legally allowed if appropriate safeguards are used to oblige the recipient of personal data who is located outside the EEA to protect that data to a similar standard to the GDPR. Appropriate safeguards are legal mechanisms such as binding corporate rules, standard contractual clauses (model clauses) approved by the European Commission, approved codes of conduct and international agreements.
If neither an adequacy decision nor appropriate safeguards are available, then the only way to legally transfer personal data to recipients in countries outside the EEA is to fall within the scope of a derogation which is set out by the GDPR to allow the transfer of personal data to third countries. A derogation is an exceptional situation such as, for example, reasons relating to the public interest.
Penalties
The GDPR introduces serious penalties for non-compliance. There are two tiers of administrative fines that can be levied:
The fines (which are discretionary rather than mandatory) are based on the specific article of the GDPR that has been breached. Infringements of their obligations under the GDPR by ‘controllers’ and ‘processors’, including data security breaches, will be subject to the lower level. Infringement of an individual’s privacy rights will be subject to the higher level.
In addition to any administrative fines, the supervisory authorities can also impose a range of corrective measures or sanctions. These include imposing a temporary or permanent ban on data processing; ordering the rectification, restriction or erasure of data; and suspending data transfers to third countries.
Separately, the GDPR also gives individuals the right to directly claim compensation from the controller or processor for damages suffered due to an infringement of the GDPR. In certain cases, not-for-profit bodies can bring representative action on behalf of individuals.
A processor will be liable for the damage caused by processing only where it has not complied with obligations of the GDPR that are specifically directed towards processors, or where it has acted outside or contrary to lawful instructions of the controller (e.g. by failing to delete personal data when requested).
Appointment of an EU representative
What may be a surprising consequence of the GDPR to many non-EU businesses is that they may need to appoint an EU representative. For the purposes of compliance with the GDPR, controllers and processors that are not resident in the EU, but that are obliged to comply with the GDPR, must appoint representatives within the EU to act as a point of contact for the EU personal data subjects and regulators on all issues relation to processing. The EU representative must be established in one of the EU member states where the affected data subjects are located.
This obligation will not apply to a public authority or body; or if the processing is occasional, or does not include, on a large scale, processing of special categories of data or processing of personal data related to criminal convictions and offences. However, in order for this latter exception to apply, processing must also be unlikely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, taking into account the nature, context, scope and purposes of the processing.
What to do?
The GDPR is a complex area of legal compliance, with ramifications for all companies who have activities in the EU, irrespective of whether their operations are actually based within the EU or elsewhere.
By 25 May 2018 all non-EU businesses should have determined:
By the time you are reading this, the deadline will have passed and the GDPR will be in effect. This does not mean it is too late to consider and address data protection compliance, including whether the GDPR applies to your business. If there is any likelihood that GDPR affects your business, we suggest that you address the risk as a matter of priority.
Al Tamimi & Company’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications team regularly advises on data protection and privacy issues, including the impact of GDPR on regional entities. For further information about these matters, please contact Andrew Fawcett, Senior Counsel (a.fawcett@tamimi.com) or Roberto Lusardi, Senior Associate (r.lusardi@tamimi.com).
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