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Data processing in modern competitive sports

Modern competitive sports are becoming increasingly data-driven, yet little or no attention is given to the individual rights of athletes to informational self-determination. This is especially surprising considering that European and German data protection laws set strong requirements for the legitimacy of athletes' personal data processing. This has given rise to the dissertation of our research associate Dr. Alexander Pollithy who has analysed data processing in modern competitive sports. His dissertation has now been published by Springer Verlag and provides essential insights into questions regarding the legality of data processing, the necessity of changes in consent law and data deletion and portability when athletes transfer between clubs.

We warmly congratulate Dr. Pollithy on his publication!

Further information is available here (Springer Link):

Dissertation Alexander Pollithy

Data protection as business model

More and more often law firms and legal tech providers advertise with "data protection" and "damages" to gain new clients who seek to take action against mobile phone providers. The accusation: The illegal transfer of so-called positive data to credit agencies such as the SCHUFA. In this context, clients are promised claims to compensation of up to 5.000 EUR. Especially regarding the decision made by the Landgericht München I (25th April 2023) and subsequent problems - such as the legal handling of service account data - the discussion concerning the legality of these business practices has intensified in recent months.

Prof. Dr. Benedikt Buchner and Karl Kuhn have detailed the legal principles governing this business model. In their newest article they discuss where the line is to be drawn between legitimate data protection interests and over-protected informational secrecy and conclude that data protection should not be used as an instrument to achieve commercial goals while endangering the legitimacy of data protection law.

Further information is available here (beck-online):

ZD 10, 2024

"Pay or Consent" - The new business model of the digital economy in-between the GDPR and the DMA

"Please choose how you would like to use our website". More and more digital users are confronted with this demand. They must choose between two alternatives: Either be charged for the use of the content with minimal collection of personal data or consent to the use of one's data - especially in regards to the use for personalised content and advertisement. This "Pay or Consent" business model - supported on principle by the CJEU holding it to be legal in essence - has been much discussed and criticised. However, not only its legality regarding the provisions of the GDPR are topic of conversations. Recently, the Commission of the EU has issued a statement in which they doubt the justification of "Pay or Consent" as to whether it stands in accordance with the Digital Markets Act. This criticism prompted the newest article authored by Prof. Dr. Benedikt Buchner and Dr. Alexander Pollithy.

Further information is available here (Juris):

WRP Zeitschrift

EARLY - Evaluating, identifying and reducing determinants of mental health conditions in youth

The EARLY project - Evaluating, identifying and reducing determinants of mental health conditions in youth - aims to provide healthcare professionals and authorities with access to evidence-based, innovative and cost-effective interventions as well as to develop corresponding education and implementation strategies. The Chair of Prof. Dr. Buchner is examining data security and privacy aspects of collecting patient-related data in connection with mental health issues in young people.

EARLY / Horizont Europa 2

New Release: Commentary on the GDPR BDSG, 4th Edition 2024

Published by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kühling, LL.M. and Prof. Dr. Benedikt Buchner, LL.M. (UCLA)

The leading Commentary on the GDPR and the BDSG has been published in its 4th Edition and is now accessible via beck-online.

Further information is available here:

Kühling/Buchner DS-GVO BDSG

Working group "Social Resilience"

Social resilience is a dynamic field of study that examines the ability of individuals, communities and societies to withstand and recover from various challenges and adversities, and to cope, adapt and transform social structures to better cope with future disturbances.
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Informational Human Rights and Digital Society

Edited by Benedikt Buchner and Thomas Petri.
For more information, click on the arrow link.

Informationelle Menschenrechte

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