Privacy and security aspects of 5G technology

This study describes two main dimensions of 5G technology, i.e. privacy and security. The focus of this research paper is the analysis of cybersecurity risks and threats, privacy challenges and 5G technology opportunities, at the EU level and worldwide, as well as the relationship between cybersecurity risks and privacy issues. The methodological framework for the impact assessment of 5G technology is built on three pillars: (i) a document-based analysis of technical specifications and scientific literature that aimed at identifying risks, challenges and opportunities related to the innovations introduced with 5G technology; (ii) a parallel analysis with stakeholder involvement consisting of a quantitative analysis to gather information from a wide array of stakeholders, and a qualitative analysis based on feedback from a group of experts; (iii) a selection of relevant case studies that illustrate the risks, challenges and opportunities identified. Potential impacts on EU citizens' privacy, including personal data protection, and location, identity and group privacy, have been assessed through stakeholder engagement tools and techniques, such as interviews, roundtables and surveys, as well as the 'sentiment analysis' methodological approach, used to collect trends on 5G technology. The complexity of the 5G ecosystem, where new use cases of the technology are constantly emerging, has also led the authors to assess the prospects of using new5G-enabled technologies, such as the internet of things, robotics and artificial intelligence. Moreover, policy options are defined and put forward for consideration by the European Parliament's Committees on Legal Affairs, Internal Market and Consumer Protection, and Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, as well as by other EU institutions and the Member States.