French Data Protection Authority launches a public consultation on future standards – Data Processing for Managing Business Activities and Unpaid Invoices

Due to the GDPR and the new French data protection law (“loi Informatique et Libertés”), the French Data Protection Authority (“CNIL”) launched two draft standards (in French: référentiels) on November 29, 2018. One o these CNIL’s draft standards deals with the processing of personal data to manage business activities, the other with unpaid invoices.

Until January 11, 2019 the possibility to consult the CNIL on the two draft Referentials will be open to the public. According to the CNIL, the draft standards will afterwards be adopted by the CNIL in plenary session.

CNIL’s Draft Referential on Data Processing for Managing Business Activities represents an update to the CNIL’s Simplified Norm No. 48 on the management of customers and prospective customers. It provides a framework for the implementation of “customer” and “prospect” files. The Draft Referential is applicable to data processing activities carried out by any data controller, except the following: health or educational institutions, banking or similar institutions, insurance companies and operators subject to approval by the French Online Gambling Regulatory Authority.

CNIL’s second draft (Draft Referential on Data Processing for Managing Unpaid Invoices) intends to provide a framework regarding the processing of personal data for managing unpaid invoices by private or public law entities. It does not apply to the processing of customer data for detecting risks of non-payment, or to identify other infringements (such as incivilities shown by customers).

Adherence to these two standards will ensure that the processing of unpaid invoices and business activities comply with current data protection principles.