Monday 14 January 2013

Naked actors used in latest attempt to spark interest in data protection reforms

The European Commission has found a novel way of attracting attention to its current "Take control of your personal data" awareness campaign - by using naked actors.

If you don't believe me, take a look yourself!

Admittedly, the campaign does get your attention - although it's quite hard to work out why people become naked just because they've gone online. 

If the video raises a smile, then so does the Commission's factsheet on what the key changes for businesses will be, if their proposals are implemented.

Evidently, these changes include: "A level playing field for businesses through one single law applicable to any business across the EU. This harmonisation is expected to save businesses by up to Euro 2.3 billion per year." And: "Simplification of the regulatory environment by drastically cutting red tape and bureaucratic requirements which impose unnecessary costs on businesses."

I don't know which of these is the more fanciful -  the idea that people who surf the web frequently lose their clothes, or that the Commission's proposals will save businesses billions of Euros each year and drastically cut red tape.

If my life depended on it, I would plump for the "fact" that people who surf the web frequently lose their clothes.

(Then again, if I were responsible for either piece of propaganda,  I would seriously worry whether I was under an obligation to give an equivalent opportunity for the other side to put their point across.)


Warning:
The embedded video uses images of naked actors. Don't blame me if the link is blocked by your corporate profanity firewall. It was published by the European Commission, though - so you are free to argue, in mitigation and in connection with any internal disciplinary proceedings, that you were trying to access an official work of art, not porn.

Source:

http://youtu.be/5ByVaZ0rg8U


http://ec.europa.eu/justice/data-protection/document/review2012/factsheets/7_en.pdf

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