Actually, I do think Google is a data controller of the content of your email account with them! I suspect they do too (they gave you a privacy policy to deal with fair processing, I imagine).
See also Example No 12 ("Social Networks") of WP 169. Both the provider and the user of social network site (which will I think include an email service provider) are controllers.
I see your (and others') argument though and will have to reconsider my position on this issue!
R
Renzo Marchini
Special Counsel
Dechert LLP
+44 20 7184 7563 Direct
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Phil Bradshaw
Sent: 25 April 2016 11:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Access to emails
I agree that the position is arguable.
I did not stray into FOI because that has specific provisions about excluding data held "on behalf of" which is a different test form purpose and method.
The danger with Renzo's approach is that you get close to saying that any data processor is necessarily a data controller.
For example I have a gmail account. Google determine the purpose of providing email facilities - just like the employer in the question. Does that make them a data controller of the content of my private emails?
On the other hand I might be persuaded that if the employer has searched and considered the emails following the original request rather than dismissing the request out of hand the employer may have made itself into a data controller - and may at the same time have breached the employee's rights notwithstanding any breaches of usage policy ... murky waters.
If for example the policy allows some private usage the request disclosed no suggestion of a breach which would have justified a search - consider Barbulescu https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__tinyurl.com_znjdgoc&d=CwIFaQ&c=XHgqDMffAkUKcWDgZTAtfA&r=WA4vMljdqTypcda6BHAprb1VUCTP6WWutu0BST87unI&m=vIy__9bWp4ek8jup87ERPS8ybDyTiDPZMhfarWBlcVw&s=F9YnEJpQjdCEd0nqElNjfmmCmKzMlxRYEKNUIqdKJOU&e=
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