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As part of an on-going debate on the European data protection reform, doubts were cast over the adequacy of the Safe Harbor arrangements with the United States. Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, called the 13-year-old data-sharing agreement between the EU and the United States a potential “loophole for…

The European Union (EU) data protection body, the Article 29 Working Party (A29WP), in April adopted new guidance on Binding Corporate Rules for Processors (BCPRs). The document supplements the opinion from June 2012, which listed elements required for valid BCPRs, by further clarifying what provisions and mechanisms must be included before BCPRs can be…

This post was written by Cynthia O’Donoghue.

The Article 29 Working Party (A29WP) adopted the Opinion on Data Protection Impact Template Assessment for Smart Grid and Smart Metering Systems (Opinion), which evaluates the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template that the member states intend to adopt. The PIA, which was prepared by industry representatives, seeks…

This post was written by Cynthia O’Donoghue.

In February 2013, Mexico became the second approved participant in the Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) programme – a system for convenient cross-border data transfers introduced in 2011 by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). At the same time, APEC and EU Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) plan to create…

This post was written by Cynthia O’Donoghue.

The Article 29 Working Party (“Art. 29 WP”), which has already released two opinions (WP191 and WP199) regarding the draft General Data Protection Regulation (“Regulation”), issued a statement and two accompanying annexes addressing some of the most heavily debated elements. This statement addresses relaxation of…

As Google continues its legal battle with the Spanish Data Protection Authority (DPA), the Spanish High Court (Audiencia Nacional) has referred several questions to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The questions cover whether individuals have the right to demand the removal and blocking of information contained within Internet search results, even though that…

The proposed new EU General Data Protection Regulation may need to be watered down. The far-reaching proposed draft, which was published in January 2012, aims to unify and strengthen the data protection laws across the 27 EU countries. However, the Financial Times reports that a memo drafted by the Irish presidency admits that “several member…

This post was written by Cynthia O’Donoghue.

Following the lead of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), which already released its draft report (see our prior blog) 20 February, the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE Committee) published its Draft Opinion on the proposed General…

Following the publication of its “further thoughts” on the European Commission’s proposed new data protection framework, the ICO has now published an in-depth, article-by-article analysis of the proposed General Data Protection Regulation (the Regulation). The ICO pointed out that this is an important opportunity to get the framework correct, as it is likely to remain…

EU Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes, responsible for the Digital Agenda for Europe, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, have signed a joint Declaration to “work collectively and in partnership to reduce the risks and maximise the benefits of the Internet for children.” The declaration demonstrates a mutual recognition by the United States and…