On February 13, 2024, the Data Protection Commission (DPC) announced that it would issue a survey questionnaire to a representative sample of sports clubs across the spectrum of voluntary and professional sports in Ireland. The survey will assist the DPC in learning about the level of awareness and understanding of data protection in the sports sector.

Moreover, the survey aims to provide assistance and guidance to the sports sector in meeting their data protection compliance obligations and to support people, who participate in sporting activities, to gain a better understanding of their rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The survey will focus on the use of technology to collect and analyze player performance data, whether the clubs are aware of their obligations in terms of data protection, and whether the players are informed of this processing. The survey will also address transparency and look for detailed information on how players are informed about the processing of their personal data, with a particular focus on children and young people.

Furthermore, the survey will be sent to voluntary and professional clubs in a number of different sports including clubs linked to the following: the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA).

You can read the press release here.