The European Data Protection Supervisor has invited three staff members who have recently joined the institution to share their own thoughts on various topics of interest. In this way, the European Data Protection Supervisor wishes to stimulate the exchange of ideas and perspectives in the field of data protection and beyond.
Brain Plugs and the Evolution of Privacy – by Leon Rossmaier
Every group of trainees that comes to work with us at the EDPS organises their own conference on a topic of interest. These events are a platform for the younger generation to share fresh – and sometimes provocative! – ideas. For this conference, the team chose a timely and exciting subject – the potential consequences of technological enhancements to our bodies for human rights and privacy.
It may come as a surprise to some of you, given how fresh-faced and youthful I appear, but it has been some time now since I was at school! Indeed, there was a time when life was a lot less digital, and when the GDPR was just a distant dream. How times have changed!
Building a better understanding of the EU and of data protection issues among citizens starts with young people. I am therefore delighted that this year, for the first time, the EDPS participated in the EU’s Back to School initiative.
Generating and fostering global partnerships in the field of data protection is one of the EDPS’ strategic objectives. That is why we co-organise, on a yearly basis, a workshop dedicated to data protection within international organisations (IOs). The workshop is a forum for the exchange of experiences and views on the most pressing issues in this field faced by IOs all over the world.
The last time our network of DPOs from the EU institutions and bodies met, on 12 December 2018, the GDPR for EUI was only one day old. While the new Regulation is still in its infancy, it is growing up fast, and at the EDPS we are determined to ensure that this process occurs with as few teething problems as possible!
Spring is in full swing – even if the weather is not very consistent! Labour Day has just been and gone, an excellent reminder of historical efforts across the world to build up and defend shared rights, for workers in particular.
Terms of service are generally designed to safeguard a service provider against legal challenges. These terms are not like a memorandum of understanding, trade agreement or a contract established jointly by two more or less equal parties. Rather, they are laid down by the service provider and not open to negotiation. In the EU there are rules protecting the consumer against unfair terms, under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, prohibiting a dominant company in a market from imposing unfair trading conditions.
The Federal Competition Authority has issued its decision on the lawfulness of Facebook's data processing. As its q&a document explains, you cannot extricate the interests of consumers, including their rights to privacy and data protection, from the responsibilities of dominant companies under competition law.
Twice a year the EDPS trainees organise an expert discussion on a topical theme related to data protection. Today’s event looks at digital technology and banking. The EDPS has always supported young generations in developing their appetite for knowledge and deepening their involvement in shaping our future. As EDPS, we are proud to act as a platform for sharing knowledge across generations and we believe we will reap the benefits of this intergenerational cooperation in the near future.
I would like to thank Els Kindt for moderating the conference, and to Carl-Christian Buhr, Jérémie Dubois-Lacoste, Farid Aliyev and Philippe de Koster for taking part in our lively panel discussion.
Our guest blogger today is Joseph, one of our trainees involved in organising the conference and provides here an introduction. He and the team should be proud of their efforts.
Happy new year to you all.
The ‘phoney war’ is coming to an end. The new data protection framework (still not complete, remember, absent updated rules on communications confidentiality!) has applied since May last year, but most people have probably not noticed much change to the way they are treated online, apart from a proliferation of pushy demands for ‘consent’ to accept business as usual.