Validity of consent coupled with free online services

The Austrian Data Protection Authority, headed by the chair of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), provided a clear way forward for advertising-based business models.

Following a complaint against an Austrian newspaper, the Austrian Data Protection Authority decided that the prohibition on making the provision of a service conditional on consent (“coupling prohibition”; Article 7(4) GDPR) can effectively be circumvented by additionally offering a consent-free equivalent service for a reasonable remuneration.

Full article: Validity of consent coupled with free online services – Chair of EDPB opens a path