Your rights online

Последно ажурирана на Петок, 18/09/2020

Internet and social media usage have become a part of everyday life throughout Europe, but what are your rights while browsing the web?

Whether it be for news, sports, entertainment or study, most of us will be online each and every day. Knowing your rights online can help when shopping, in adhering to copyright, and in avoiding being abused.

Getting an Internet connection

Wherever you are in the EU, you must be able to access good quality electronic communication services at an affordable price - including basic internet access. This is known as the "universal service" provision. There should be at least one internet provider who can provide this service for you. 

If you are a user with disabilities, you are entitled to the same range and choice of services enjoyed by other consumers. You may also be eligible for special accessibility devices from your service provider - such as magnification software or a screen reader, if you are visually impaired.

If you travel to another country, you can always check the rules in the country and get support by looking at the contacts provided here.

Open Internet

EU rules on open internet give you the right as a user to access and/or distribute any online content and services you choose. Your internet provider cannot block, slow down or discriminate against any online content, applications or services, except in 3 specific cases:

• to comply with legal obligations, such as a court order blocking specific illegal content
• to preserve the security and integrity of the network, for example to combat viruses or malware
• to manage exceptional or temporary network congestion.

Shopping Online

Online shopping has become a time friendly and convenient way to pick up a bargain. With a few clicks you can have goods delivered right to your door, but what can you do if your product is not what you expected? Your rights for guarantees and returns should cover you up to 14 days after a purchase is made.  

Inform yourself about your rights to avoid issues when buying online here!

Online copyright

For those of you who are digitally creative (photographers, bloggers and podcasters, to use some examples), knowing what copyrights might impact your work can be very important. The European Commission has set directives on this topic, which might help avoid future issues for you!   

Data protection 

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the European regulation enforced on 25 May 2018 which aims to unify the rules concerning the processing of personal data relating to individuals in the EU by an individual, a company or an organisation. 

Under GDPR, personal data (such as your telephone number, photograph, opinions or bank details) must only be stored for the time taken to achieve the purpose for which the data has been collected.

Processors and controllers are responsible for ensuring data security at every stage. In some situations, you can request that your data is not processed, or that its processing is “restricted”. This is also known as “the right to object”, it could happen because you consider that information particularly sensitive.

There are of course also several exceptions to GDPR rules, for instance when data is anonymised, needed in administrative records or when an individual poses a threat to the rights and freedoms of others.

Read more about the ways this regulation impacts your everyday life here.