Firm in Prime Time probe suspends services
A company at the centre of a recent RTÉ Prime Time investigation has suspended all services that involve location data relating to Irish users for a minimum of 28 days.
The move from the data broker came after a request from the Data Protection Commission (DPC).
The programme found that data on the specific movement of tens of thousands of smartphones in Ireland was available to buy from companies working in the digital marketing and advertising industries.
In an update on its investigation, the DPC said that its engagement with the company was continuing and it was receiving further information that would guide “further regulatory action”.
EU engagement
The watchdog has also identified two companies based in two other EU member states in connection with its probe.
“We are engaging with the data-protection authorities of those member states who are competent for regulating these companies,” it said.
The DPC also referred to recent public commentary on the online behavioural advertising Real Time Bidding (RTB) system.
“While the DPC does not generally comment on ongoing inquiries, given the significant public interest, we wish to confirm that the RTB system which is the subject of an ongoing DPC statutory inquiry does not disclose precise location data to third parties,” it stated.