Irish Times Apr 14,
2016
The European
Parliament has voted through tougher rules on data protection,
aimed at boosting privacy and giving authorities greater powers to take action
against companies that breach the rules.
The rules, including the much-needed General Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR), were four years in the making and form the new backbone of
laws for data regulators to pursue companies with heavy fines - as much as 4
per cent of annual turnover for global companies - for incidents such as data
breaches, which have become increasingly common.
Viviane Reding,
MEP and former vice-president of the European
Commissionwho proposed the changes in 2012, said: “This is a
historic day for Europe. This reform will restore trust in digital services
today, thereby reigniting the engine for growth tomorrow.
“There can be no freedom without security, and no security without
freedom. Today’s concomitant adoption of these three legislations sends a
strong signal that national security and data protection can and must go hand
in hand.”
National rules
The new data privacy laws comprise of the GDPR, which governs the use
and privacy of EU citizens’ data, and the Data Protection Directive, which
governs the use of EU citizens’ data by law enforcement.
Together they aim to create strong data protection law for Europe’s 500
million citizens; streamline legislation between the 28 member states pushing a
digital single market and boost police and security cooperation. It is due to
replace the outdated patchwork of national rules that have only allowed for
small fines in cases of violation.
The new laws have already proved controversial with companies wishing to
operate with EU citizens’ data, placing an administrative burden on some,
including those based outside of Europe.
The next step in strengthening of data regulation across the EU is an
overhaul of the ePrivacy Directive, which will now commence in earnest, to
bring it inline with the changes laid out in the GDPR.
Passenger name data
The European Parliament also voted through the EU Passenger Name Record
(PNR), which aims to aid law enforcement in tracking people’s movement across
Europe.
EC’s first vice-president Frans Timmermans,
vice-president of the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip, and Commissioner for
Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova,
said: “These new rules come at a time when improved cooperation in the fight
against terrorism and other serious crime is more necessary than ever, as shown
by the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels.”
Ms Reding added: “Faced with the transnational nature of the digital
revolution and the fight against terror, EU-wide rules are the only solution to
our problems.
“PNR is an important tool to track terrorists flying in and out of
Europe in a much wider toolkit, which should also include the systematic
sharing of information in all EU databases.”
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