3 ms·
Objections under Article 21(1) could require deletion under Article 17(1)(c), unless " the controller demonstrates compelling legitimate grounds for the process
by jsmith45 4y ago
Objections under Article 21(1) could require deletion under Article 17(1)(c), unless " the controller demonstrates compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject".
This is an inversion of the rule for legitimate interest processing, where the processing is legal unless there is an overriding interests, rights, and freedoms by the data subject. Basically, in the middle ground where neither set of rights and interests clearly override the other, the controller can legally process, but can also be forced to delete via the objection mechanism.
The fact that there is little clear guidance as to in what circumstances one set of interests, rights, or freedoms should override legitimate interests or vice versa, it does make this area of the law basically come down to somewhat arbitrary decisions of the relevant DPAs.
Recital 47 seems to suggest that for the normal direction of overriding interests, most situations where the average person would not be surprised/annoyed if informed about this processing in the specific circumstances is likely to be be permissible. But with Art 21(1)'s reversed burden, the guidance is simply "It should be for the controller to demonstrate that its compelling legitimate interest overrides the interests or the fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject." No guidance at all about how much or low little this differs from the what is permissible via Art 6(1)(f). Clearly some difference is intended since the wording is clearly reversed from Art 6(1)(f).
It leaves legitimate interests processing (which is by far the one of the most common processing reasons, and probably is common than all the other lawful reasons combined) as basically a giant minefield until the DPAs have established enough "case law" (for lack of a better term) to make sufficiently clear how they balance these competing interests and rights and freedoms.