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EU Breaks Its Own Data Protection Laws

Published

5 days ago

January 8, 2025

A picture of a man covering his face with the imprint of the European Union Stars for the concept. Credit: Shutterstock, Gwoeii

The EU has broken its own data protection laws and has subsequently been found guilty and fined. In a twist worthy of House of Cards – if House of Cards were a comedy starring Will Ferrel – the EU General Court has turned the tables on its own, fining the European Commission €400 (£345) for flouting the very data protection laws it’s famous for enforcing. Yes, you read that right – the watchdog got caught without its leash!

The ruling, delivered Wednesday, January 8, marks a historic first. A German citizen, who innocently clicked ‘Sign in with Facebook’ while registering for an EU conference, ended up exposing the Commission’s questionable data practices. The enthusiastic user’s IP address was whisked away to Meta Platforms in the U.S., in clear violation of the EU’s stringent General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). T

From watchdog to lawbreakers

The EU Commission, which often dishes out hefty fines to corporate giants like Meta, Klarna, and LinkedIn for GDPR breaches, and stresses small businesses out something silly with its constant requirements, found itself on the receiving end this time. The court ruled that the Commission had failed to put proper safeguards in place before transferring personal data overseas.

And the price tag for this blunder? A relatively modest €400 in damages for the citizen whose data was mishandled. It might be a drop in the ocean for the EU’s budget, but the comedy value? Priceless.

‘We’ll study the implications,’ says Commission

The European Commission’s spokesperson, clearly caught on the back foot, said: “The Commission takes note of the judgment and will carefully study the Court’s judgment and its implications.” Translation? A red-faced passive-aggressive meeting is likely on the agenda.

GDPR: World-class privacy laws under scrutiny

Europe’s GDPR is hailed globally as the gold standard in data privacy. But this case has highlighted the irony of the very institution responsible for upholding these laws tripping over them. It’s not the first time GDPR has made headlines – major corporations have faced multi-million-euro penalties. But now, it’s the enforcer that’s been fined, and you can bet there’ll be plenty of smirks in corporate boardrooms worldwide. The question on everybody’s lips is; how can the EU expect small and medium-sized businesses to abide by the laws that they themselves can’t keep track of?

The bigger picture for data privacy laws

While €400 might not seem like much, this ruling could set a precedent. The EU’s own institutions are now under the microscope, proving that no one – not even the big bosses in the gloomy depths of Brussels – is above the law.

Stay tuned for more.

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Palma De Mallorca Passenger Record

Published

4 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Anna Ellis

Image: Zixia / Shutterstock.com.

Palma de Mallorca Airport concluded 2024 with a record 33,298,164 passengers, marking a 7 per cent increase compared to 2023.

These figures, just released by Aena, confirm that it has been the busiest year in the airport’s history.

Of the total number of commercial passengers, 9,058,246 flew on domestic routes, a 5 per cent rise, while 24,225,720 travelled on international flights, an increase of 7.8 per cent.

In terms of operations, the airport handled 243,200 flights, up by 6.2 per cent from 2023, setting a new record for aircraft movements.

Passenger Records set in December at Palma de Mallorca Airport

In December 2024, Palma de Mallorca Airport saw 1,082,512 passengers, a 4.2 per cent increase over the same month in 2023. The airport managed 9,573 flights, representing a 2.8 per cent growth.

Of the passengers in December, 656,123 were domestic travellers (+1.1 per cent), while 426,254 were international passengers (+9.4 per cent).

The Aena Group, which operates 46 airports and two heliports in Spain, as well as London-Luton Airport and 17 airports in Brazil, closed 2024 with a total of 369,444,029 passengers, an 8.5 per cent increase from 2023. The group managed 3,203,747 aircraft movements, a 7.1 per cent rise, and handled 1,421,640 tonnes of cargo, an 18.1 per cent increase.

In December 2024, Aena Group airports processed 26,925,911 passengers, up by 7.2 per cent from the previous year.

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Record Foreign House Music Earnings

Published

4 hours ago

January 13, 2025

John Smith

Franky Rizardo made 112 foreign performances in 2024 Credit: Franky Rizardo Facebook

Although there is no history of successful Dutch rock groups outside of the Netherlands, there is still plenty of export money to be made from current trends.

Looking back, it’s hard to find more than a handful of successful Dutch rock bands that were successful outside of their homeland with probably Alquin, Focus, Golden Earring, Shocking Blue and Supersister making up that that handful.

The Netherlands earned record foreign income from House Music performances in 2024

Where the Dutch are currently particularly strong is in the area of House Music and according to research commissioned by Buma Cultuur, this genre represented foreign earnings of €136 million in 2024 which accounts for 62 per cent of the grand total of €220 million.

This total figure represents a new record and beat the 2018 record by 11 per cent with the top four Dutch DJs and producers appearing outside of the Netherlands on 410 occasions in 2024 with the most in demand being Franky Rizardo.

It’s not just House Music that is popular as performances by André Rieu were in great demand around the world

One of the more traditional Dutch musicians, violinist and conductor André Rieu proved to be very popular with foreign audiences and although he performed more than once a week outside of the Netherlands, he has also earned an enormous amount from TV and DVD recordings of his massively popular concerts.

Until Brexit, the UK probably earned more overseas performance earnings than any other European country but although the top performers such as Elton John, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran can still afford to tour internationally, new rules and regulations have made it increasingly difficult for up and coming artists to take part in many European events.

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Body Image, Food Anxiety Event Torremolinos

Published

4 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Marc Menendez-Roche

body-image,-food-anxiety-event-torremolinos

Struggling with body image, stress, and food anxiety? This event in Torremolinos might be for you. Credit: Vania Fit, Meetup

ON Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 10 AM to 12 PM CET, Hotel Barracuda Pool Bar in La Carihuela, Torremolinos, will host a unique event designed specifically for women struggling with body image issues, stress, and food anxiety. This gathering is for those who have longed to achieve their ideal body but have found it challenging due to emotional eating and anxiety.

The event is a safe space where attendees can learn about the root causes of their struggles with food and body image, and how to finally break free from these patterns. The focus is not on quick fixes or weight-loss products but on teaching women to live freely in their bodies, something the host has successfully done herself.

This isn’t just about learning how to manage your relationship with food – it’s about reclaiming confidence and being at peace with yourself. If you’re tired of promises of weight loss through shakes and pills, this event offers a refreshing alternative that focuses on self-awareness and lasting change.

Join in on January 25 for a morning of learning, sharing, and growth together. Come alone or bring your friends, and take part in networking with other like-minded women who are on a similar journey to self-love and personal growth.

Don’t miss the opportunity to meet like-minded women and begin your own journey to living in a body you love. The group is waiting for you.

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