Confidentiality and the (Un)Sustainable Development of the Internet

The right to privacy is compromised on a daily basis by the commercial practices of today’s information society. The Schrems case is an example of the risks of the processing of personal data on the internet. The European regulatory system for the protection of personal data cannot ensure effective protection of its citizens’ information. Therefore, this article proposes a reconceptualisation of the internet by classifying it as an aspect of the environment in which people live. Although it is a virtual dimension, there is still a need to apply the rules established to protect the real habitat, such as, for example, those that recognise a specific corporate social responsibility.