EU: New Data Privacy Law with stiff penalties agreed on

The European Union has been working to revise its data privacy laws for several years. The EU reached political agreement on the new general data privacy regulation (it is referred to as the “general” data privacy regulation because the EU has sector-specific data privacy rules). The formal adoption of the legislation by the Parliament and Council is expected in early 2016 without any changes.

Data protection reform is a legislative package proposed by the Commission in 2012 to update and modernise the data protection rules. It concerns two legislative instruments: the general data protection regulation (intended to replace directive 95/46/EC) and the data protection directive in the area of law enforcement (intended to replace the 2008 data protection framework decision).

The protection of persons in relation to the processing of their personal data is a fundamental right laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (Article 8) and in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Article 16).

Full content: New Europe

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.