Policy Observatory
The European Data Protection Supervisor published an opinion highlighting some of the major technology trends which may involve unacceptable processing of personal information or may interfere with the right to privacy. It outlines a four-tier ‘big data protection ecosystem’ to respond to the digital challenge. The EDPS has also announced the establishment of an external Ethics Board, that will help to better assess the ethical implications of how personal information is defined and used in the big data and artificial intelligence driven world.
The Opinion follows on from the previous Opinion on the General Data Protection Regulation which aimed to assist the main institutions of the EU in reaching the right consensus on workable, future-oriented set of rules which enable and promote the rights and freedoms of the individual.
Links to the Opinion and press release.
Giovanni Buttarelli, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), recently announced the formation of a new external Ethics Board that will do a deep dive into the complex ethical issues that surround the use of personal data in the “big data” economy. The EDPS is particularly concerned about the rise of artificial intelligence and its implications for personal data protection.
Please read the press release and full opinion here.
The top European data protection official, the European Data Protection Supervisor, has called for strong privacy protections in the "ePrivacy Directive", an updated framework to safeguard personal information. "The scope of new ePrivacy rules needs to be broad enough to cover all forms of electronic communications irrespective of network or service used." The Data Protection Supervisor also said the legislation should "allow users to use end-to- end encryption without back doors". NGOs and data protection officials have also called for the reform of the European legislation after the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation. EPIC has urged the FCC to establish a comprehensive framework for communications privacy, noting the work now underway in Europe to update privacy laws.