Measuring the brussels effect through access requests

Has the European General Data Protection Regulation Influenced the Data Protection Rights of Canadian Citizens?

Journal article (2021)

Authors

René Mahieu Vrije Universiteit Brussel
H. Asghari Organisation & Governance - TPM
Christopher Parsons University of Toronto
Joris Van Hoboken Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Masashi Crete-Nishihata University of Toronto
Andrew Hilts University of Toronto
Siena Anstis University of Toronto
Research Group
Organisation & Governance (TPM) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2021 René Mahieu, H. Asghari, Christopher Parsons, Joris van Hoboken, Masashi Crete-Nishihata, Andrew Hilts, Siena Anstis
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.5325/jinfopoli.11.2021.0301
GDPR Data protection Brussels effect Enforcement Right of access to personal data
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

Faculty

Technology, Policy and Management

Department

Multi Actor Systems

Research Group

Organisation & Governance

Abstract

We investigate empirically whether the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) improved compliance with data protection rights of people who are not formally protected under GDPR. By measuring compliance with the right of access for European Union (EU) and Canadian residents, we find that this is indeed the case. We argue this is likely caused by the Brussels Effect, a mechanism whereby policy diffuses primarily through market mechanisms. We suggest that a willingness to back up its rules with strong enforcement, as it did with the introduction of the GDPR, was the primary driver in allowing the EU to unilaterally affect companies' global behavior.