Iot, smart energy systems, personal data and encryption in the gdpr

Abstract

With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and technologies such as robotics, AI and Big Data, new regulatory frameworks are deployed in an age where data is the most important thing for any business. Internet of Things needs specific attention in the scope of, among others, the GDPR and the ePrivacy Regulation. Smart energy solutions and related systems like smart homes, smart cities are growing and stay the essential part of the whole ecosystem, that we use to optimize the energy consumption. At the same time, they are capable of severely invading the inviolability of the most privacy-sensitive place: the home. This article provides an overview, from the European legal perspective, smart systems challenges to the fundamental rights to privacy, personal data protection, and the way Europe has addressed them. This research has a goal to give answer to the following questions: What are the implications for smart metering infrastructure and data use for new market services? Is the energy sector and smart energy solutions ready for GDPR? Are there specific sectoral issues for the industry that should be considered? How will tech companies react to the data portability rules of the GDPR? Are these companies prepared for sharing customer’s data with other institutions? Does GDPR have an impact on competition in this sector and is there a need for new delivery models for these solutions?.