The European Data Protection Board invites stakeholders to express interest in participating in a June 2024 event focused on enforcement priorities for political advertising under GDPR and DSA regulations, with a May 10 deadline for registration.
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has opened registrations for a stakeholder event addressing compliance requirements for political advertising under EU data protection frameworks. Scheduled for June 3, 2024, this hybrid event aims to facilitate dialogue between regulators, political parties, advertising platforms, and civil society regarding enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Digital Services Act (DSA) in electoral contexts.
Political advertising represents a high-risk category under EU law due to its potential impact on democratic processes and voter privacy. The GDPR restricts processing of special category data—including political opinions—without explicit consent or other lawful bases, while the DSA imposes transparency obligations for online political ads. Recent enforcement actions against major platforms highlight regulators' focus on this sector, with penalties reaching up to 6% of global turnover for violations.
Organizations involved in political campaigning must note two critical deadlines:
- Expressions of interest to participate must be submitted via the official registration form by May 10, 2024
- Selected attendees will receive confirmation by May 24 ahead of the June 3 event
Participation requires justification of stakeholder relevance to political advertising ecosystems. Priority will be given to:
- Political parties and campaign organizations
- Digital advertising platforms and ad-tech providers
- Data protection officers of entities processing voter data
- Academic researchers studying electoral influence
This event signals intensified regulatory scrutiny ahead of major European elections. Attendees should prepare to discuss:
- Practical implementation of GDPR Article 9(2)(d) exemptions for political activities
- Technical compliance with DSA's real-time ad repository requirements
- Cross-border enforcement coordination mechanisms
- Emerging risks in AI-driven microtargeting
The EDPB emphasizes that participation does not confer immunity from enforcement but offers valuable insight into regulatory priorities. Stakeholders should review guidance documents including the EDPB Guidelines on political opinions and DSA transparency reporting templates
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