Privacy in the 5G world : the GDPR in a datafied society

Abstract

<div lang="en" class="abs"><p class="abs_header">Abstract</p><p>The datafication of society is likely to increase in the upcoming 5G world and legal safeguards are necessary to ensure our privacy rights are protected. The purpose of this chapter is to analyze some of the unique characteristics of 5G and how the EU General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) stands as the last legal guardian against unwanted personal data violations. With the increase of data transfer speed and reliability comes the risk of privacy deterioration as 5G interlaces with ubiquitous computing creating a socio‐technical all‐encompassing global web of personal digital data extraction, storage, and transfer that will directly impact the way society organizes itself. The focus of this article is on identifying and understanding the possible threats to privacy protection that may be encountered in the deployment of 5G. Due to its low latency, reliability, high capacity, energy efficiency, and speedy data transmissions, 5G will directly impact the way we interact, communicate, work, and participate in society. For this breakthrough to take place a new generation of communication infrastructure is being designed, created, and implemented in many urban areas in Europe, North East Asia, North America, and other regions of the world. In addition, more intangible elements, such as software, protocols, and standards are being put in place. Not only the volume, velocity, and variety of digital data will increase in the 5G world, but also the value. However, in the fast approaching datafied world, privacy is rapidly becoming a cherished commodity rather than an inherited human right.</p></div>