2 11 November 2005

News:

The Article 29 Data Protection Working Party has heavily criticised the draft Data Retention Directive, which was published by the European Commission on 21 September.

Data Protection Law & Policy is organising on Thursday November 24 a half-day Briefing ‘Personal Data and Subject Access Rights’, focusing on best practice methods for the management of personal data and subject access requests.

Protecting personal data is ranked as one of the top three most important issues by members of the public, according to research presented by Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas on 16 November.

Features:

After over 100 formal opinions, we are now used to seeing the Article 29 Working Party having a decisive role in the future of data protection law and its implementation. Given that European data protection regulators are by and large sensible people and rigorous public officials, this attitude is generally welcome as it contributes to a much needed harmonisation in this field. Following the review of the data protection directive in 2002, the Article 29 Working Party has been the most obvious point of reference for anything to do with pan-European data protection law. But with the recent opinion on the Commission’s proposal for a compulsory data retention directive, the Working Party has definitely gone up a level.

Delivering better public services by data sharing while protecting the principles of the Data Protection Act is a challenge for all public sector organisations. Valerie M Surgenor, an associate with MacRoberts Solicitors looks at how this challenge is being met.

Global businesses face a bewildering array of data privacy laws. Richard Jones of Clifford Chance suggests taking a strategic view before the detail becomes overwhelming.

The police service in Scotland faces many data protection challenges. Christine Thomson, Data Protection Officer for the Grampian Police outlines how some of these challenges are addressed.

A year has passed since the European Commission’s second report on the effectiveness of the Safe Harbor mechanism for EU-US data transfers. With its fifth anniversary also come and gone, Dan Cooper of Covington & Burling assesses the effectiveness of Safe Harbor and recent developments.

The need for intellectual property rights’ owners to be able to take effective action against infringers requires balance with the individual’s right to privacy. Nick Rose, partner at Field Fisher Waterhouse examines the latest developments.