The EU Data Protection Supervisor, Commission and Parliament clarify how data protection laws apply to competition investigations

The application of the GDPR from 5 May 2018 has had a significant impact on the way companies manage their data in various areas. In the field of competition, the GDPR might well cause companies that face competition investigations to wonder whether they should provide personal data in responding to requests for information or applying for immunity or leniency, and if they do so, whether they should inform data subjects of that fact. Companies might also be concerned about how the EC will handle personal data that they have submitted. EC antitrust officers, in turn, have been concerned that companies might be reluctant to hand over information for fear of breaching data protection laws. EDPS Assistant Supervisor Letter In response to those concerns, Wojciech Rafał Wiewiórowski,