European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
data protection
Artificial intelligence, data protection and elections
The Facebook/Cambridge Analytica case in 2018, revealing alleged misuse of personal data for political advertising, demonstrated how the underlying values of the European data protection rules are essential for democracy. The EU has recently adopted a series of additional initiatives to support free and fair elections, reflected not least in European Parliament (EP) debates and resolutions. Continue reading
EU policies – Delivering for citizens: Digital transformation [Policy Podcast]
A digital revolution is transforming the world as we know it at unprecedented speed. Digital technologies have changed the way businesses operate, how people connect and exchange information, and how they interact with the public and private sectors. Continue reading
Fintech (financial technology) and the European Union: State of play and outlook
The financial technology (fintech) sector encompasses firms that use technology-based systems either to provide financial services and products directly, or to make the financial system more efficient. Continue reading
Re-use of public sector information [EU Legislation in Progress]
The mid-term review of the digital single market strategy in 2017 identified the data economy as one of the top three priority areas for action in the second half of the strategy’s implementation, and announced a legislative proposal to improve access to and the re-use of publicly funded data. Continue reading
Users of wearable sensors [What Europe does for you]
Have you noticed people watching their wrist while doing sport? Perhaps, like an increasing number of people, you enjoy using mobile and wearable devices to track your fitness by measuring your athletic performance, calculate the calories you burn, your sleep, or stress level. Continue reading
Interoperability between EU border and security information systems [EU Legislation in Progress]
To strengthen EU external border management and enhance internal security, the European Commission has made several proposals to upgrade and expand European border and security information systems. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – Strasbourg, September 2018
The highlight of September’s plenary session was the State of the Union speech by the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, announcing a number of legislative proposals to come by the end of the Commission’s mandate. Continue reading
The Privacy Shield: Update on the state of play of the EU-US data transfer rules
The CJEU’s Schrems judgment of October 2015, besides declaring the European Commission’s Decision on the EU-US ‘Safe Harbour’ data transfer regime invalid, has also settled a number of crucial requirements corresponding to the foundations of EU data protection. In less than one year from the CJEU ruling, the Commission had adopted a new adequacy decision in which the new framework for EU-US data transfer, the Privacy Shield (2016), is deemed to adequately protect EU citizens. The main improvements of the Privacy Shield (over its predecessor), as well as the critical reactions to the new arrangements, are discussed in this paper. The first joint annual review took place in September 2017 on which both the Commission and Article 29 Working Party issued their own reports. Although progress is recognised, a number of concerns remain and new challenges to the Privacy Shield have arisen, among others, from the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal, as pointed out by the European Parliament in its recent resolution. Continue reading
GDPR goes live: A modern data protection law
Aimed at strengthening citizens’ rights uniformly while reducing burdens for companies and public entities, the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies fully as of 25 May 2018. The long-awaited (and often feared) law is part of a reform package adopted in 2016 to foster trust in a digital age. The recent revelations on misuses of data show how the underlying values of the GDPR standards are essential for democracy. Continue reading
Rules for EU institutions’ processing of personal data [EU Legislation in Progress]
In the context of the comprehensive reform of the EU’s legal framework for data protection, the Commission tabled a proposal in January 2017 for a ‘regulation on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and the free movement of such data’ and repealing the existing one (Regulation No 45/2001). Continue reading
Contracts for the supply of digital content and digital services [EU Legislation in Progress]
The digital content directive was proposed by the European Commission as part of a legislative package, alongside the online sales directive, to facilitate the development of the internal market for such content. Continue reading
Reform of the e-Privacy Directive [EU Legislation in Progress][Policy Podcast]
Written by Shara Monteleone, In January 2017, the Commission tabled a proposal for a regulation on privacy and electronic communications which would replace the current 2002 e-Privacy Directive. The main objectives of the review are: enhancing security and communications confidentiality; defining clearer rules on tracking technologies such as cookies; and achieving greater harmonisation among Member … Continue reading
Single market information tool (SMIT) [EU Legislation in Progress]
Competition and consumer protection in the single market are often undermined by measures such as price discrimination based on residency, geo-blocking of online audio-visual content, or limited cross-border parcel delivery. Continue reading
Contracts for the supply of digital content and personal data protection
Written by Rafał Mańko and Shara Monteleone, The proposed directive on the supply of digital content is intended to regulate the main contractual rights and duties of parties to contracts for the supply of digital content and services, and create a harmonised legal framework for digital content to benefit both consumers and businesses. It covers … Continue reading
Financial technology (FinTech): Prospects and challenges for the EU [Policy Podcast]
Written by Cemal Karakas, Carla Stamegna, FinTech, the abbreviation for financial technology, is a broad term. It is mainly used to refer to firms that use technology-based systems either to provide financial services and products directly, or to try to make the financial system more efficient. Examples include robotic trading, cashless payments, crowdfunding platforms, robo-advice, … Continue reading
Revision of the Schengen Information System for border checks [EU Legislation in Progress]
The Schengen Information System (SIS) is a large-scale information database that supports external border control and law enforcement cooperation in the Schengen states. Continue reading
Fundamental rights implications of big data [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Shara Monteleone, The development of smart devices connected online and of big data practices, allowing unprecedented availability, sharing and automated use of data, brings both opportunities in terms of efficiency and improvement in our lives and risks for individuals’ fundamental rights. The European Parliament will vote on an own-initiative report on these issues … Continue reading
All about the money: EU Budget, Data Protection, Tunisia – November II Plenary Session
Written by Clare Ferguson, The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have spent three weeks negotiating a provisional agreement on the Commission’s proposed 2017 EU budget, which comes before Parliament’s November plenary session for a vote in plenary on Wednesday. The proposals use the flexibility of the multi-year spending programme, the Multiannual … Continue reading
Reactions to the EU-US Privacy Shield, the successor to the Safe Harbour agreement
Written by Jan Baeverstroem, On 2 February 2016 the College of Commissioners approved the political agreement on the ‘The EU-US Privacy Shield’ , which was followed on 29 February 2016 by a draft “adequacy decision ” and the communication ‘Transatlantic Data Flows: Restoring Trust through Strong Safeguards ‘. The Commission has also made the US Government’s written commitments … Continue reading
Fingerprinting migrants: Eurodac Regulation
Written by Anita Orav Eurodac is a biometric database in which Member States are required to enter the fingerprint data of irregular migrants or asylum-seekers in order to identify where they entered the EU, and whether they have previously made asylum applications. Its main purpose is to facilitate the application of the Dublin Regulation, which … Continue reading
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