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Deutsch: Datenschutz-Richtlinie: Die Strategie der Europäischen Kommission
During the Conference organised on 16 September 2010 by the Lisbon Council Brussels on "Unleashing the digital single market", Vivane Reding, vice-president of the European Commission and Commissioner for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, announced, among other things, she would make a proposal for the future revision of the present Data Protection Directive.
In her speech, Mrs. Reding reinforced her beliefs expressed in October 2009 that Europe needed a Digital Single Market that would be beneficial for consumers and businesses alike and vowed to use EU justice policy to strengthen it. The commissioner identified two main tools that may help in solving the problems of the digital economy: The Consumer Rights and Data Protection Directives.
A strong data protection legislation would also be an important element in boosting business and consumer confidence "to ensure consumers of surfing and shopping online without worrying about the safety of their personal information." Therefore, the commissioner announced that an outline for the revision of the present Data Protection Directive would be presented by the Commission in October 2010 in order to "strengthen individuals' rights and enhance the Internal Market dimension of data protection."
The revision would include a more strict application of transparency for a "full, easily accessible and easy to understand information on how personal data is being processed." The collection of personal data should have a legitimate purpose and not exceed the strictly necessary data. "Data should be collected and processed only under informed consent of a person to whom they relate."
One measure intended by the Commission is that of enhancing the responsibility of the data controllers to be able to establish "effective mechanisms to ensure compliance with data protection rules."
Reding also expressed again the idea that as the Internet is a global tool, the data transferred through it should be protected and expressed the intention to improve the current procedures for international data transfers.
In order to encourage new technologies in an environment in which consumers know their rights, different solutions could be found such as "privacy by design." "Data protection compliance should be embedded throughout the entire life cycle of technologies and procedures."
The Digital Single Market should also be a cyber crime-safe environment. And for this purpose the Commission will propose criminal sanctions against people responsible for cyber attacks.
Press Release - Viviane Reding Vice-President of the European Commission
responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship - Doing the
Single Market justice - Unleashing the digital single market Conference,
organised by the Lisbon Council Brussels (16.09.2010)
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/10/441&...
EDRi-gram: Reding: EU policy for information society for the next years
(7.10.2010)
http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number7.19/reding-eu-policy-infosoc