Privacy International, a leading advocacy organization, has begun investigating the information practices of 25 multinational companies for any indications of failure to comply with EU privacy laws. If any violations are discovered, the organization will bring litigation before European courts beginning in January 1999. Companies being investigated include Ford, Hilton International, Mariott International, Microsoft, United Airlines and others. The Directive has been criticized on the grounds that it is too highly centralized, rigidly bureaucratic and expensive to implement. It might also be a nontariff barrier to free trade and lead to data trade war.
Some experts question whether it can be enforced in today's commercial environment.
Such delay creates great uncertainty for business. An identifiable person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identification number or to one or more factors specific to his physical, physiological, mental, economic, cultural or social identity. Thus, biometric vendors and companies using biometrics or planning to use biometrics need to understand the Directive and comply with its terms. He is a leading expert on the biometric industry.