Sluggish start for EU data e-petition

An e-petition seeking to exclude B2B data from proposed amendments to the EU Data Protection Regulation – launched by telemarketing firm SCi Sales – has gained just 10 signatures in its first week.
The petition needs to secure at least 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in the House of Commons, although it does not close until December 4 2013.
Located on the Government’s official ‘epetitions’ microsite, the petition seeks to garner support for the belief that new data protection legislation designed to protect consumers is not needed in the B2B space, and, that it could actively damage “the marketing of UK companies and their ability to sell”.
The Government has already recommended that the EU – and the draft’s architect Viviane Reding (pictured) – should “go back to the drawing board” with the current draft, following a consultation led by the DMA.
But the petition post argues: “As consumers we want our personal data to be secure and treated with respect – our personal lifestyle, purchasing habits and financial details should be handled with care.
“But at work we do not function as an individual, we are part of an organisation. Our purchasing habits do not satisfy our personal needs, they satisfy the needs of the organisation. Our work email address belongs to our employer, not to us.”
It continues: “We are asking the UK & European government to ensure B2B data is excluded from the EUDR.
We need you and your colleagues to add pressure to the government and ensure the views of business executives are heard.”