Doherty calls on EU to cut GDPR “red tape”

Fine Gael MEP Regina Doherty has called on EU Commissioner Michael McGrath to reform GDPR.

She says reform is required in order to strengthen rules against online fraud.

Speaking in the European Parliament, the Fine Gael MEP said, “GDPR has protected citizens in an era of economic weaponisation of data — but it’s also blocked financial institutions from flagging red alerts to law enforcement and imposed huge compliance costs on small and medium enterprises.”

“The EU is smothered in bureaucracy. If we want to stay competitive and protect people online, we need to take the scissors to it and cut it out — fast. This reform is a long-overdue first step.”

The Dublin MEP said that Commissioner McGrath needs to provide clarity on whether GDPR, which was first introduced in 2018, would be overhauled and modernised.

She said that there is a need to update the legislation as while it may have been fit for purpose in 2018, there have been advances and loopholes in data protection and online scams since the legislation was passed.

“We need a smarter approach that protects privacy without paralysing productivity. That means giving regulators the tools to crack down on cybercriminals — not small businesses.”