Client Alert
| January 30, 2012
European Commission proposes significant changes to EU data protection regime
The European Commission (the "Commission") has issued a Proposal for a General Data Protection Regulation (the "Proposal") setting out significant potential changes to the existing EU data protection legislation. That legislation, based on French law, was drafted in 1995 and represented the first attempt at a harmonized EU-wide set of data protection laws. Since that time, there have been significant practical changes in the ways in which personal data is handled. For example, in 1995, the percentage of EU residents using the Internet was in single figures, whereas in 2012, that figure has risen to almost 70 per cent. Concepts such as online banking – which would have been unheard of in 1995 – are now commonplace. As a result, personal data is being processed in new ways, many of which were outside the contemplation of the original legislation. The stated aim of the Commission is to comprehensively reform the 1995 EU data protection rules to strengthen online privacy rights and boost Europe's digital economy.
This memorandum is intended only as a general discussion of these issues. It is not considered to be legal advice. We would be pleased to provide additional details or advice about specific situations. For additional information on this important topic, please feel free to call upon your Dewey & LeBoeuf relationship partner. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form, without our prior written consent.
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