The European Commission has announced proposals for sweeping changes regarding data protection that could transform the way people use the internet.

Viviane Reding, European justice commissioner, has put forward a package of measures that will reform the way data is held online.

"Privacy by design" and "privacy by default" will be considered essential principles under new data protection legislation, the European Commission explained.

It added that these changes, the first significant reforms since legislation was first introduced in this area in 1995, will boost consumer confidence in the online world.

A recent survey, conducted by Eurobarometer, highlighted the concerns many people have about how safe their personal information is online.

A massive 80 per cent of internet users based in the UK expressed worry about giving away too much data, while a quarter of social network users (33 per cent) felt that they didn't have complete control over their private details.

"The protection of personal data is a fundamental right for all Europeans, but citizens do not always feel in full control of their personal data," said Ms Reding.

"My proposals will help build trust in online services because people will be better informed about their rights and in more control of their information."

Key proposals put forward include:

• Reinforcing the "right to be forgotten", which gives internet users the power to delete data where there is no justifiable need for it to be kept.

• Explaining that where consent is required for using people's data, it has to be made explicit – it cannot be assumed.

• Informing people within a 24-hour period that serious data breaches have taken place.

• Improving the access people have to their own data and allowing them more freedom to move it from one service to another.

Adam Malik, organiser of the Digital London Office, told the BBC that although he appreciated people had a right to ask for their data to be deleted from websites, the proposed changes could hammer some enterprises.

"This is just an additional tax on all businesses which hold electronic customer records," he said.

"Also we need clarity on what is personalised data. Lots of lawyers will be happy about this directive for years to come - meanwhile innovation is discouraged."

Posted by Jane Newton
 

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