On the transfer of personal data of citizens to private companies 

Αίτηση προς: Petitionsausschuss des Europäischen Parlaments

The petitioner applied for job seekers’ allowances after having taken care of her elderly parents for several years. She was invited to attend a first meeting with the Irish job activation service, Jobpath, which is implemented by a private British company, Seetec. The petitioner claims that this company collects personal data from jobseekers who use their services or register with them, and on the fear of having her data protection rights diminished, she refused to sign the contract presented by the company. She nevertheless attended several meetings, but was applied penalty rates and suspensions by the Department of Social Protection, which she claims to be illegal. The petitioner refers to a High Court decision, ruling that the imposition of penalty rates and suspensions was done illegally by the Department of Social Protection when a participant attended Jobpath meetings, was willing to participate in training but unwilling to sign a contract. She also claims that the Department of Social Protection has shared her personal data to potentially six companies without her knowledge or permission. The petitioner claims that this was done in breach of the EU data protection rules, particularly with regard to the CJEU case law in the Bara case.