Exemptions to the European Union Personal Data Privacy Directive: Will They Swallow the Directive?

This Note analyses the probable effectiveness of the European Union Data Protection Directive, which was passed in order to curtail the invasion of personal privacy that has accompanied the development of the Internet, in light of three potentially expansive exemptions contained within the Directive. The author concludes that the goals of the Directive will be achieved only if Member States interpret these exemptions restrictively when enacting legislation pursuant to the Directive.