WFA participates in EU Commission roundtable on Interest Based Advertising (11/03/2011)
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ISBA announces Annual Conference 2011 Agenda (27/02/2011)
ISBA publishes a new Social Media Guide (27/02/2011)
EU governments set out objectives for new data protection rules
Date: 24/02/2011
On 24 February, the European Union's Council of Ministers, representing national governments, set out its objectives for the forthcoming review of the EU's data protection framework.
In their meeting Conclusions, the European Justice Ministers make the following key points:
- The EU data protection principles (the strictest in the world) are still valid and must be respected in all future legislative acts - however, emerging business and technological developments require a thorough evaluation;
- The lack of proper harmonisation has led to a situation where the Data Protection Directive's objective of the free movement of data is not fully achieved;
- The impact of new technologies on the protection of personal data must be carefully examined, in particular with regard to the need to inform people in simple language about the impact of new technologies on their privacy and to provide 'privacy by default' options;
- The Commission should explore the possibility of including a provision on ‘privacy by design' and to promote privacy-enhancing technologies (PET);
- The special protection of sensitive personal data should remain a core element of the new rules. In this context, the Council asks whether the categories of sensitive data should be expanded;
- Privacy seals (EU certification schemes) and self-regulatory initiatives involving close cooperation with industrial stakeholders should be explored, as they are "promising in ensuring a higher level of protection for individuals and in raising awareness". The role of data protection authorities in ensuring compliance in both instances should also be explored;
- EU standard privacy information notices should be considered by the Commission
- The introduction of a right to be forgotten should be explored.
Unlike the European Commission and the Parliament who regularly specify the online advertising industry, the Council stays away from identifying any particular industry sector that would be responsible for prompting a revision.
Next steps:
The European Commission, which is responsible for drafting the new rules, is currently analysing the responses to the public consultation submitted by stakeholders and interested parties, including WFA's. The Commission is expected to publish a proposal by mid-2011. Meanwhile, the European Parliament is preparing an own-initiative report on the revision of the EU Data Protection legal framework, tentatively scheduled for adoption in June 2011.
For more information please contact Malte Lohan [email protected]
