Around the world, policymakers are focusing on ways to improve privacy frameworks. More than 120 countries currently have a privacy or data protection law enacted. Significant developments in the European Union, with the General Data Protection Regulation becoming applicable in May 2018, have had an impact on US based organizations that conduct business globally and on how regulators around the world think about privacy frameworks. Global approaches to privacy protection differ based on different legal traditions. Still, there is significant common ground in the commitment to empowering individuals with respect to the collection and use of personal data, and to protecting people against harm from the use of their data. FPF closely follows developments in EU policymaking and regulation supported by our local office in Brussels, as well as developments in APAC, and Latin America. We keep our stakeholders informed of relevant changes, case-law, guidance, policies, and legal requirements, while also providing background and in-depth analysis in order to support them in being ahead of key developments globally. FPF’s global work is led by Dr. Gabriela Zanfir-Fortuna.
Featured
Chris Wolf Moderates Panel at CES 2016
Innovating Privacy: New Frameworks for Changing Technology Chris led the discussion by this excellent panel at this year’s CES. Full panel discussion can be viewed here(link expired). Consumers are enjoying the benefits of connected devices while navigating (grappling with!) new privacy issues. Industry and regulators alike are working to understand consumer preferences while preserving creativity […]
Essentially Equivalent:
“In a milestone decision on transatlantic data protection, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued its judgment in the Schrems case, declaring the Commission decision on the EU-U.S. Safe Harbor agreement invalid. The CJEU declared that such a decision requires a finding that the level of protection of fundamental rights and freedoms in the laws and practices of the third country is “essentially equivalent” to that guaranteed within the EU.”
FPF Senior Fellow Peter Swire Debates Max Schrems
Privacy in the EU and the US Scheduled for Jan 26, 2016 – 12:30 Eastern FPF is pleased to share the following announcement: The Brussels Privacy Hub is pleased to announce a pre-CPDP launch event: “Privacy in the EU and US: A debate between Max Schrems and Peter Swire” * Peter Swire – Huang Professor […]
The struggle to balance surveillance and privacy in France
In a historic decision last October, the European Court of Justice struck down Safe Harbor, one of the most relied upon legal agreements to transfer data between Europe and the U.S. At stake were some of the surveillance programs put in place by the NSA to gather data about both U.S. and foreign individuals.
New Swire-FPF Report: U.S. Surveillance Law, Safe Harbor, and Reforms Since 2013
In the wake of critical decisions being handed down by the EU concerning the Safe Harbor laws (Schrems case) and U.S. Surveillance practices, Professor Peter Swire and the Future of Privacy Forum today have released a report titled “U.S. Surveillance Law, Safe Harbor, and Reforms Since 2013.”
White House Steps Up APEC-EU Interoperability Push
Former FPF’er Josh Harris provides some insights on the APEC-EU privacy interoperability project. “…the White House released a fact sheet detailing the outcomes of this year’s APEC meetings and highlighting the interoperability project as a key outcome that should be continued and expanded.” Check out the full article here and if you want to know […]
The Hill Features FPF's Comments on Safe Harbor
Today the US political news website The Hill carried an opinion piece by Future of Privacy Forum staff on the EUCJ’s Safe Harbor ruling. Executive Director Jules Polonetsky and Legal & Policy Fellow Bénédicte Dambrine write of the challenges the ruling creates for European companies, workers, students, and educational institutions, and asked that policymakers […]
End of Safe Harbor? Understanding the CJEU’s Decision and Its Implications
Legal background In Europe, the processing of personal data is governed by Directive 95/46/EC (the “Directive”) which sets forth rules under which data may be lawfully processed1.The transfer of personal data to third countries is restricted to countries that ensure an adequate level of protection2.While the Directive itself does not provide a definition of the […]
Amend the U.S. Privacy Act to Provide Further Privacy Protections to European and Other Non-US Persons
I had the pleasure of participating recently at a Georgetown Law Center conference called “Privacy Act @40.” My panel was on “Looking Ahead,” and my comments focused on new ways that the United States is (and can) extend appropriate privacy rights to citizens of other countries. Today, just a couple of weeks later, Google has […]
Data Protection Law Errors in Google Spain LS, Google Inc. v. Agencia Espanola de Proteccion de Datos, Mario Costeja Gonzalez
The following is a guest post by Scott D. Goss, Senior Privacy Counsel, Qualcomm Incorporated, addressing the recent “Right to be Forgotten” decision by the European Court of Justice. There has been quite a bit of discussion surrounding the European Court of Justice’s judgment in Google Spain LS, Google Inc. v. Agencia Espanola de Proteccion de […]