Montpellier Residents Assert Data Rights Under GDPR & French Law
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Montpellier city services are reaffirming residents’ comprehensive data privacy rights in accordance with both the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and France’s longstanding “Informatics and Freedoms” law. This commitment ensures transparency and control over personal information collected during the delivery of municipal services.
The city’s data handling practices center on processing information solely to fulfill requested services. According to a recent notice, collected data is securely protected and retained only for the legally mandated period, as well as for as long as it remains useful for service provision. Access to this information is restricted to the specific City services directly involved in delivering those services.
Understanding Your Rights
EU Regulation 2016/679, commonly known as GDPR, and the amended “Informatics and Freedoms” law of January 6, 1978, grant individuals a robust set of rights concerning their personal data. These rights, while subject to certain conditions and exceptions, are significant.
Residents have the right to:
- Access their personal data held by the city.
- Rectify any inaccuracies in that data.
- Request erasure of their data under specific circumstances.
- Oppose the processing of their data.
- Seek limitation of processing in certain situations.
- Withdraw consent for data processing at any time.
- File a complaint with the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), the French data protection authority.
How to Exercise Your Data Rights
Montpellier provides two straightforward avenues for residents to exercise these rights. Individuals can contact the city via postal mail at Montpellier town hall, 1 place Georges Frêche, 34267 Montpellier Cedex 2. Alternatively, inquiries can be submitted electronically to [email protected].
A senior official stated that the city is dedicated to responding to all requests promptly and efficiently, ensuring residents maintain control over their personal information. This commitment reflects a broader trend toward increased data privacy awareness and regulation globally.
