Events | Privacy and Information Security Law Blog

European Commission to Host Safe Harbor Conference on March 19 in Washington

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

The U.S. Department of Commerce has confirmed that the European Commission will host this year’s Safe Harbor Conference in Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2012. The venue marks a change from the tradition of previous sessions which have taken place in the host authority’s capital city (Washington, D.C. or Brussels). The Conference will follow the release of the European Commission’s draft revisions to the EU Data Protection Directive 95/46, which are expected on or around January 25, 2012. The widely leaked draft of the proposal does not contain language pertaining to the current Safe Harbor program that exists between the United States and Europe. The European Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce will negotiate the Safe Harbor Conference agenda over the next few weeks.

Tags: Department of Commerce, EU Data Protection Directive, European Commission, Safe Harbor

Sotto Breaks Down Data Breach Response in Interview with BankInfoSecurity

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On November 30, 2011, Tracy Kitten, Managing Editor of BankInfoSecurity, interviewed Lisa J. Sotto, partner and head of the Global Privacy and Data Security practice at Hunton & Williams LLP. Discussing how data breaches can be game changers for organizations that suffer major incidents, Sotto emphasized that companies need to consider both the legal compliance issues involved with data breaches and potential reputational risks. Sotto also addressed how attorneys can play a key role in helping companies through the process.

Read the interview transcript or listen to the podcast, which can be streamed or downloaded as an MP3 on the BankInfoSecurity website.

Tags: Lisa Sotto

German Data Protection Association Issues Report on “Uniform Data Protection Law in Europe through Regulation”

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On November 17, 2011, the German Association for Data Protection and Data Security (“GDD”) held its 35th Privacy Conference (“DAFTA”) in Cologne, Germany. At the opening plenary session, Paul Nemitz, Director for Fundamental Rights and Citizenship of the European Commission, announced that the European Commission plans to implement a Regulation that is directly applicable to all EU Member States, to harmonize data protection laws in Europe.

Tags: Consumer Protection, Data Protection Authority, EU Member States, European Commission, Germany

APEC Leaders Endorse Cross-Border Privacy Rules

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On November 13, 2011, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (“APEC”) leaders endorsed the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (“CBPRs”) system at an APEC meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Leaders’ Statement also endorsed interoperability between national and regional privacy and data protection regimes to facilitate moving data around the globe while protecting privacy.

Tags: Accountability, APEC, Cross-Border Data Flow

Live from Mexico City: Opening Session Highlights the Potential and Challenges of Big Data

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On November 2, 2011, following welcome comments by Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (“IFAI”) Commissioner Jacqueline Peschard, the 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners opened in Mexico City with an examination of the phenomenon of “big data” as a definer of a new economic era. In a wide-ranging presentation, Kenneth Neil Cukier of the Economist drew into clear relief the possibilities and problems associated with combining vast stores of data and powerful analytics. He highlighted the growing ability to correlate seemingly unrelated data sets to predict behavior, reveal trends, enhance product performance and safety and derive meaning. In his remarks Cukier noted that, in an era of big data, much of the decision-making about data collection and use goes beyond traditional notions of privacy, touching on ethics and free will. Noting that the printing press led to the development of free speech laws, he left open the question of how big data may change the legal landscape.

Tags: Accountability, Colombia, Data Protection Authority, David Vladeck, Federal Trade Commission, Germany, Jacqueline Peschard, Mexico, New Zealand, Privacy By Design, Richard Thomas

Live from Mexico City: Implementing Accountability in the Marketplace

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On November 1, 2011, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership released a discussion document entitled “Implementing Accountability in the Marketplace,” at the 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Mexico City. The document reflects the collaborative effort of experts from Canada, Europe and the United States, and provides a comprehensive summary of the third year of the Centre’s work with the Accountability Project. It examines the requirements and benefits of accountability when it is applied across the marketplace, and considers when and how companies may wish to be formally recognized as accountable and how recognition may be obtained.

For more information on accountability, visit the Centre’s website on the Accountability Project.

Tags: Accountability, Canada, Fred Cate, Marty Abrams, Mexico, Paula Bruening, Richard Thomas

Mexico Hosts 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On November 2-3, 2011, Mexico’s Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (“IFAI”) will host the 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Mexico City. Marty Abrams, President of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP, is the chairman of the Conference’s advisory panel and principal advisor to Conference organizers on program content. Hunton & Williams is a proud sponsor of the event which will feature Hunton representatives as speakers or moderators on multiple panels and plenary sessions, including the following:

Tags: Article 29 Working Party, Australia, China, Christopher Graham, Christopher Kuner, Colombia, David Vladeck, Department of the Treasury, Federal Trade Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Google, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Lisa Sotto, Marty Abrams, Mexico, New Zealand, Paula Bruening, Poland, Richard Thomas, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay

Centre Presents Accountability Paper at Canadian Privacy Conference

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On October 13, 2011, Marty Abrams, President of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP, presented “Accountability in a Page” as part of the “What it Means to Be Accountable” plenary session at the PIPA Conference 2011 taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mr. Abrams, who leads the Centre’s Accountability Project, outlined the essential elements of accountability and described how top multinational companies are building accountability-based programs. According to Mr. Abrams, “accountability as mandated by the Canadian private sector privacy law requires companies to have comprehensive programs that include polices, mechanisms to put those policies into effect, and review processes to assure the mechanisms are functional.” Mr. Abrams provided attendees with a one-pager on accountability that includes a list of common elements companies are using to implement accountability programs.

For more information on accountability, visit the Centre’s website on the Accountability Project.

Tags: Accountability, Canada, Marty Abrams

European Privacy Officers Forum Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary in Brussels

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On Tuesday, September 27, 2011, the European Privacy Officers Forum (“EPOF”) celebrated its 10th anniversary with a gala reception at the BELvue Museum in Brussels. EPOF is composed of EU-based data protection compliance officers and internal legal counsel from over 30 multinational companies and public-sector institutions who meet three times a year in Brussels to exchange ideas and to hear presentations by data protection authorities and other government representatives. The gala, which was attended by approximately 100 people, featured opening remarks from Peter Hustinx, European Data Protection Supervisor, the Honorable William E. Kennard, U.S. Ambassador to the EU, and Paul Nemitz, Director of Fundamental Rights and Citizenship of the European Commission.

Tags: Christopher Kuner, European Commission, Peter Hustinx

Privacy and Information Security Law Blog - Global privacy and information security law updates and analysis

European Commission to Host Safe Harbor Conference on March 19 in Washington

Sotto Breaks Down Data Breach Response in Interview with BankInfoSecurity

German Data Protection Association Issues Report on “Uniform Data Protection Law in Europe through Regulation”

APEC Leaders Endorse Cross-Border Privacy Rules

Live from Mexico City: Opening Session Highlights the Potential and Challenges of Big Data

Live from Mexico City: Implementing Accountability in the Marketplace

Mexico Hosts 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners

Centre Presents Accountability Paper at Canadian Privacy Conference

European Privacy Officers Forum Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary in Brussels

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