Project information

The right of data protection in the context of profiling

One of the biggest challenges posed by the global technological evolution to the right of data protection is the processing of such data in the context of profiling. UNICRI is leading a consortium of partners in the implementation of a new project which seeks to outline the main risks to human rights involved in profiling practices.

The PROFILING project has been funded by the European Commission, DG Justice, under the Fundamental Rights and Citizens programme. It is focused on identifying and tackling the challenges posed by technology to the fundamental right to data protection.

Main objectives

  • Identifying the risks related to the extensive use of profiling
  • Identifying the level of awareness of the responsible authorities of the Member States on the risks deriving from the use of profiling
  • Identifying the level of awareness of a selected sample/group of interviewers in testing partner countries
  • Identifying the countermeasures adopted in all EU Member States.

Main activities:

  1. A background analysis on profiling and its impact on fundamental rights
  2. A risk assessment based on the results of the background analysis
  3. A series of questionnaires elaborated and tested with the national Data Protection Authorities of the 28 EU Member States and Switzerland, to assess the present European legal framework
  4. Fieldwork in three selected countries – Romania, Germany and Italy –exploring automated profiling in different domains of applications: political activism (Germany), border control (Italy) and e-commerce (Romania).

The final comprehensive analysis will provide inputs for the workshops which will involve different stakeholders. These workshops will help to raise awareness about the threats and their possible solutions.

The main activities will be followed by a dissemination phase which will enable the partners to share the achievements gained during the implementation of the project and possibly inspire follow-up initiatives.

A final international meeting will be organized in Rome to present the main results of the project.

The two year project started in November 2012.