ARTICLE 29 DATA PROTECTION WORKING PARTY
This Working Party was set up under Article 29 of Directive 95/46/EC. It is an independent European advisory body on
data protection and privacy. Its tasks are described in Article 30 of Directive 95/46/EC and Article 15 of Directive
2002/58/EC.
The secretariat is provided by Directorate C (Civil Justice, Rights and Citizenship) of the European Commission,
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium, Office No LX-46 06/80.
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/privacy/index_en.htm
00737/EN
WP 148
Opinion on data protection issues related to search engines
Adopted on 4 April 2008
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Table of contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................ 3
1.
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................... 4
2. DEFINITION OF A "SEARCH ENGINE" AND BUSINESS MODEL................... 5
3. WHAT KIND OF DATA? ......................................................................................... 6
4. LEGAL FRAMEWORK............................................................................................ 7
4. 1. Controllers of user data .......................................................................................... 7
4.1.1. The fundamental right - respect for private life................................................ 7
4.1.2. Applicability of Directive 95/46/EC (Data Protection Directive).................... 8
4.1.3 Applicability of Directive 2002/58/EC (ePrivacy Directive) and Directive
2006/24/EC (Data Retention Directive) ................................................................... 12
4.2 Content providers ................................................................................................... 13
4.2.1. Freedom of expression and right to private life.............................................. 13
4.2