The decision by Bundeskartellamt, Germany’s competition authority, to rule against Facebook’s plans to merge user data from Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram is hugely significant and perhaps the first step towards the separation of data from the digital monopolies.
The French regulator's record fine for Google proves that the data industry is being forcefully awoken to a new reality where control over data shifts towards the individual and away from corporations. So what can we expect going forward? Craig Hanna explores the ramifications of the GDPR ruling, why there should be a separation of powers when it comes to personal data, and how a global data stream which is more open and democratic will benefit us all.
Trust in digital advertising is at an all-time low thanks to various data misuse scandals and the public's growing awareness about how their data can be exploited. While GDPR can be seen as the regulators big stand on behalf of consumers, the industry itself should be taking a proactive approach too. So what should advertisers and vendors do? Ben Humphrey suggests five key areas where they should take action.