3 1 January 2006

News:

Global business, General Electric has become the first company to win authorisation from the UK Information Commissioner to transfer employee's information outside the European Economic Area using binding corporate rules.

Data Protection Law & Policy is beginning 2006 with the launch of two major events which will address the key issues facing data protection professionals.

Government moves forcing people to pay for information requested under the Freedom of Information Act would deter the public from using the recently enacted legislation, say campaigners.

Features:

As we struggle to figure out the feasibility of our New Year resolutions, I know that quite a few privacy managers are trying to decide whether to dive into the waters of Binding Corporate Rules.

The controversial Data Retention Directive received support from the European Parliament in December 2005. Karin Retzer, Of Counsel, in the Brussels office of international law firm, Morrison & Foerster LLP, summarises the most controversial issues of the Directive, namely the scope of the new obligations, the purposes of retention and access, retention periods, data storage obligations, and reimbursement of associated costs.

Transferring employee data from an EEA country to the US is a familiar problem for many multinational corporations. Oliver Brettle, a partner in the London office of global law firm White & Case, considers the options available to achieve compliance with data protection legislation.

As the debate over the use of RFID and individual privacy continues, the Article 29 Working Party has recently published the results of its consultation on the use of the technology. Nigel Miller, partner at Fox Williams analyses the findings.

Mounting concern from the EU and US over a lack of effective data protection legislation is threatening India's lucrative outsourcing industry. Sakate Khaitan, partner at Indian law firm ALMT Legal, analyses the Indian Government's latest moves as it pushes a bill through parliament to address these concerns.

2005 has been a productive year for the United States in its regulation of data privacy, both at state and federal level. Erin M. Egan, Partner, and Evan R. Zullow, Associate, of Covington & Burling look back at the key developments and forecast for the coming year.