The awards for the Netherlands' biggest privacy violators in 2024 go to Publisher DPG Media and Finance Minister Heinen. Civil rights movement Bits of Freedom draws attention to privacy and freedom of communication every year through its Big Brother Awards.
According to the jury, DPG Media's practices do not comply with the privacy rules of the General Data Protection Regulation (AVG). "DPG Media does not properly explain what data is collected or how it is used. As a result, most people do not realize that their online behavior is accurately tracked and used to sell more ads, allowing DPG Media to maximize its profits," the jury said. "What most people also don't know is that some of DPG Media's more than 100 ad partners store data about your browsing habits for up to 10 years."
The public chose Minister Heinen this time because of policies that would indirectly lead to privacy violations and discrimination by financial institutions. It concerns the way banks implement the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act (Wwft). Bits of Freedom believes the minister should come up with a proposal to update the Wwft. "In it, financial institutions should no longer have a perverse incentive to discriminate against customers, violate customer privacy and make it impossible for customers to make payments," the civil rights movement said.
Click here for the jury report.
