The Perfect Match? A Closer Look at the Relationship between EU Consumer Law and Data Protection Law

TL;DR

This paper explores how EU consumer law and data protection law can complement each other to better protect consumers in digital markets, emphasizing legal interpretation and enforcement opportunities.

Contribution

It offers a detailed analysis of the interaction between consumer law and data protection law, proposing a more integrated approach for protecting data consumers.

Findings

Consumer rights can challenge excessive data collection.

Consumer organizations leverage consumer law against data infringements.

Legal interplay offers new enforcement opportunities.

Abstract

In modern markets, many companies offer so-called 'free' services and monetize consumer data they collect through those services. This paper argues that consumer law and data protection law can usefully complement each other. Data protection law can also inform the interpretation of consumer law. Using consumer rights, consumers should be able to challenge excessive collection of their personal data. Consumer organizations have used consumer law to tackle data protection infringements. The interplay of data protection law and consumer protection law provides exciting opportunities for a more integrated vision on 'data consumer law'.