Blockchain and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation: The CNIL's Perspective

Blckchn.ca Working Paper Series, 2018-01

12 Pages Posted: 28 Nov 2018

See all articles by Florian Martin-Bariteau

Florian Martin-Bariteau

Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society; University of Ottawa - Common Law Section; University of Ottawa - Centre for Law, Technology and Society

Date Written: October 30, 2018

Abstract

The Commission Nationale Informatique et Libertés (CNIL), has published “Blockchain: Premiers éléments d’analyse de la CNIL”, a document on blockchain and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This document was released by the French Data Protection Authority (DPA) as a working policy paper and offers an overview of its initial reflection on the Blockchain technology and its compliance with the GDPR.

The CNIL notes the GDPR has been created to regulate data use, rather than any particular form of technology. As such, and without surprise to anyone familiar with privacy law, the CNIL states the GDPR applies to the use of blockchain in any instance where personal data is handled. However, this working paper is a very raw analysis. In our opinion, the document raises more questions than it answers – and highlights some legal uncertainty with respect to the qualifications of different actors on a blockchain under the GDPR taxonomy. In several areas, the CNIL highlights that more reflection is needed on its end, and that this reflection needs to be undertaken at the European level.

Note: The document is an annotated translation of the CNIL’s document.

Keywords: blockchain, privacy, gdrp

Suggested Citation

Martin-Bariteau, Florian, Blockchain and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation: The CNIL's Perspective (October 30, 2018). Blckchn.ca Working Paper Series, 2018-01, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3275783 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3275783

Florian Martin-Bariteau (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society ( email )

Harvard Law School
23 Everett, 2nd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

University of Ottawa - Common Law Section ( email )

57 Louis Pasteur
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://f-mb.org

University of Ottawa - Centre for Law, Technology and Society ( email )

57 Louis Pasteur
Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5
Canada

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