News about Digital Privacy

Today the European Commission published a new study, the eGovernment benchmark report 2018, which demonstrates that the availability and quality of online public services have improved in the EU. Overall there has been significant progress in respect to the efficient use of public information and services online, transparency of government authorities' operations and users' control of personal data, cross-border mobility and key enablers, such as the availability of electronic identity cards and other documents.

The VisiOn project makes it easier to check that public administrations are storing personal data responsibly.

The European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement to update the EU's telecoms rules. The new European Electronic Communications Code, proposed by the Commission, will boost investments in very high capacity networks across the EU, including in remote and rural areas.

The Commission has proposed on 10 January 2017 a Regulation on Privacy and Electronic Communications to update current rules to technical developments and to adapt them to the General Data Protection Regulation that will enter into application in May 2018. The objective is to reinforce trust and security in the Digital Single Market.

Ahead of the entry into application of the General Data Protection Regulation, the European Commission has presented a set of concrete actions that European leaders can take to protect citizens' privacy and make the EU's Digital Single Market a reality before the end of 2018.

The European Commission (DG CONNECT), ENISA and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) are organising this year's forum and are inviting papers presenting original work on the themes of data protection and privacy and their repercussions on technology business, government, law, society, policy and on law enforcement. An inter-disciplinary approach is high in demand to contribute to bridging the gap between research, business models and policy, much like proposing new models and interpretations are. Deadline for submission is 18 April 2018.

A central element of the ICT 2018 event are the networking sessions which complement the conference programme and the exhibition. The networking sessions are organised by stakeholders attending ICT 2018 and aim to boost exchanges between all participants.

ICT 2018 will include a 5 000m² exhibition area showcasing the best accomplishments and pioneering results of EU funded research and innovation actions.

The NGI initiative will be present at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018, held in Barcelona from 26 February to 1 March. From 26 to 28 February, the NGI booth at 4 Years From Now (4YFN) will provide more information about this ambitious initiative. A panel discussion will be held on Monday, 26 February from 12:30 to 13:30 at 4YFN where the exciting NGI Awards 2019 will be launched. An interactive NGI session at the Mobile World Capital booth in the heart of the MWC will take place on Tuesday, 27 February from 16:30 to 17:30 to discuss 'Will privacy enhancing business models drive the NGI?'.

The Commission has published guidance to facilitate a direct and smooth application of the new data protection rules across the EU as of 25 May. The Commission also launched a new online tool dedicated to SMEs.