EDPB Chooses Right to Erasure for Fourth Coordinated Enforcement Action
During its plenary session in October 2024, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) announced the topic for its fourth Coordinated Enforcement Action (CEF), focusing on the implementation of the right to erasure, commonly known as the ‘right to be forgotten.’ Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) across Europe will have the opportunity to join this initiative voluntarily in the coming weeks, with the official launch scheduled for the first half of 2025. This action aims to assess how effectively this right is being implemented by data controllers.
The right to erasure, outlined in Article 17 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), is one of the most commonly invoked rights by individuals, leading to numerous complaints received by DPAs. The coordinated enforcement action will evaluate practical implementation by analyzing and comparing the processes adopted by various controllers. This effort will help identify significant compliance issues and highlight best practices across different jurisdictions.
In previous years, the EDPB has coordinated national actions on various topics, including the use of cloud services in the public sector, the role of Data Protection Officers, and the right of access for data subjects. By prioritizing specific issues, the EDPB enables DPAs to work collaboratively at the national level. The outcomes of these coordinated actions are aggregated for comprehensive analysis, enhancing understanding of the topics and informing future actions at both national and EU levels.
The EDPB has already published reports on its earlier coordinated actions, including those focused on cloud services and the designation of Data Protection Officers. The report detailing the findings from the 2024 coordinated action on the right of access is expected to be adopted at the beginning of 2025. The Coordinated Enforcement Framework, established in October 2020, is a crucial component of the EDPB’s strategy for 2024-2027, aimed at improving enforcement and cooperation among DPAs.
