Irish data protection Commissioner launches investigations on micro-targeting on social media

Helen Dixon, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), announced the launch of several investigations into the microtargeting of users of social media platforms. According to the Irish Times, Dixon told an international “grand committee” of parliamentarians in the Seanad chamber that the micro-targeting of users of social media raised issues of compliance with the GDPR. The focus of the investigations is broad and cover platforms, but also data brokers and ad exchanges. Dixon indicated that all investigations should be closed next year, and will focus on the lawfulness and transparency of these practices.