BREAKING NEWS – Xnet WINS THE BATTLE IN DATA PROTECTION FOR MILLIONS OF FREELANCERS

In 2018, following a complaint from an affected individual and together with the participants [1] to our university postgraduate program in Technopolitics and Rights in the Digital Age, we began investigating how it was possible that the personal data of the vast majority of freelancers—those data we are required to provide when registering as a freelancer, including sensitive information like our home address—were being sold online by private consulting firms without our consent or benefit. Where was the breach in data custody by institutions?

In 2022, we published a compelling report, “Abuses in the labor field: sale of data of freelancers” where we explained that it was the very Chamber of Commerce that allowed and facilitated this violation of rights:
https://xnet-x.net/en/abuses-labor-field-sale-data-freelancers/

We reported this in December 2022 to the Spanish Data Protection,
https://xnet.maadix.org/nextcloud/index.php/s/6pijiTLrggWHeTs

which opened an investigation in April 2023, and…

Today, they issued a statement confirming that they agree with what we requested and a total fines amount to one million euros.
https://www.aepd.es/informes-y-resoluciones/criterios-juridicos-aepd/tratamiento-datos-personales-empresarios-autonomos

Some of the press echoes:
El País
Protección de Datos ordena el borrado masivo de los listados de autónomos de las bases de datos empresariales
El Periódico
Revés a la Cámara de Comercio de España por desproteger los datos personales de millones de autónomos
Xataka
La AEPD ya sabe de dónde han salido los datos de millones de autónomos que estaban a la venta en internet: la Cámara de Comercio

[1] Project coordinated by Simona Levi, together with Míriam Carles, based on the work of researchers from the postgraduate program in Technopolitics and Rights in the Digital Age, led by Simona Levi and Cristina Ribas. The initiating researcher has requested to remain anonymous. Other contributions come from researchers Alba Soler, Carmelo Ordóñez, Jose Luis Ribés, Carlos García, Carlos Amat, and G.A.LL.