GDPR is legal junk

alternative_right writes: For the uninitiated, GDPR (or General Data Protection Regulation) is the reason you are constantly bombarded with "accept cookies" pop-ups. It was designed, with a quintessentially German scepticism of corporate power, to give you control over your digital footprint, ensuring companies cannot hoard your data without permission.

But, while intended as a necessary check on privacy, it has instead fueled a burgeoning industry of litigation-funded class actions, costing businesses billions and making the UK a less attractive place to do business. The growth of group litigation in the UK and Europe has been exponential, with claimant law firms and litigation funders pursuing novel claims that previously would not have been economically feasible.

There's no doubt that you’ve seen the adverts: "Did you shop at the Co-op?", "Were you a Southern Water customer?", "Did you have an M&S Sparks card?", "Claim your compensation now." These are the fruits of a newly empowered litigation industry — the product of beefed-up GDPR rules.

Companies absolutely should prioritise consumer privacy. But these rules must be measurable and achievable. Right now, these class action lawsuits are often driven by lawyers in search of claimants, exploiting minor mishaps to secure a payout rather than addressing a genuine grievance.