In the digital era, data is the new currency… And data protection, an increasingly important social, legal and political matter for the EU! But how well protected is our data? And what challenges lie ahead?

EPRS policy podcast - Understanding EU data protection policy

Mark Zuckerberg,&nbsp; Chief Executive Officer of Facebook meets President Tajani and the political group chairpersons in the European Parliament in Brussels.

He&nbsp;attends the Conference of Presidents of the Political Groups of the European Parliament. The meeting includes the participation of the President and Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

Meeting with Mark Zuckerberg at the European Parliament

Adopted in April 2016, the new EU data protection framework is fully applicable since 25 May 2018.

The package on data protection aims at uniformly strengthening citizens’ rights while reducing burdens for companies and public authorities, as well as adapting rules to the digital era. The package, taking a comprehensive approach, included a general regulation (GDPR) and a directive applying data protection principles to the processing of data for police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/data-protection-8th-parliamentary-term_5707_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Data Protection (2019-2020)

The end of May 2019 marked the first year since the full application of the General data protection regulation (GDPR).

The Parliament and the Commission have stressed that the full potential of data as a social good cannot be unlocked until citizens' lack of trust in technology and their sense of a loss of control of their personal data is properly addressed. Various matters are concerned: Artificial Intelligence (AI); Facial Recognition Technology (FRT); The Internet of Things (IoT); etc.

Data Protection

On Friday 25 May 2018 the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force.

MEPs approved the regulation in 2016, in order to provide universal and high-level data protection rules across the EU.&nbsp; GDPR will ensure that everyone is able to control what kind of personal data they share with companies and for which purposes.

#EUelections2019 - Data Protection

Press conference on The Final vote on Transparency and targeting of political advertising

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Data Governance Act

EP Plenary session - Data Protection Adequacy - Joint debate

EP Plenary session - A European strategy for data

EP Plenary session - Use of contact tracing apps in the fight against the coronavirus

EP plenary session - Commission statement - The use of Facebook users’ data by Cambridge Analytica and the impact on data protection

LIBE committee meeting. Vote on the use of Facebook users' data by Cambridge Analytica and the impact on data protection

EP Plenary session - Protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and free movement of such data

LIBE Hearing on the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica case - Part 3: Use of Facebook users' data by Cambridge Analytica and impact on data protection - Policy solutions and remedies -

LIBE-ITRE-AFCO-JURI Joint committee hearing - Use of Facebook users' data by Cambridge Analytica and impact on data protection - Consequences -  The consumers’ trust in digital platforms and cybersecurity

LIBE-ITRE-AFCO-JURI Joint committee hearing - Hearing Part 2 :Use of Facebook users' data by Cambridge Analytica and impact on data protection - Consequences - Session 2: The alleged impact and risks for electoral processes

LIBE-ITRE-AFCO-JURI Joint committee hearing - Hearing Part 2 :Use of Facebook users' data by Cambridge Analytica and impact on data protection - Consequences - Session 1: Data Protection and Privacy implications, including applicable jurisdiction.

Launch event GDPR and EDPB

EP Press conference.Antonio TAJANI, EP President following the meeting with Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook

EP Conference of Presidents with Mark ZUCKERBERG, founder and CEO of Facebook

Extraordinary meeting of the Conference of Presidents with the CEO and founder of Facebook

Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets with Mark ZUCKERBERG, founder and CEO of Facebookfaire ambiances

Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets with Mark ZUCKERBERG, founder and CEO of Facebook

MEPs vote on the following topics: Luena (A9-0220/2023) - Nature restoration; Gozi (A9-0009/2023) - Transparency and targeting of political advertising; Ripa (ENVI 14/02) - Detergents and surfactants, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004; Borchia (A9-0378/2023) - Amending Decision (EU) 2017/1324 as regards the continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe; Manders (A9-0087/2023) - Protection of the environment through criminal law; and Van Overveldt (A9-0412/2023) - Report on the European Central Bank – annual report 2023.

Voting session: Nature restoration

The new rules enhance the integrity of election campaigns and help fight disinformation and foreign interference. The regulation requires political advertising to be clearly labelled, allowing citizens to see why they were targeted, who sponsored the ad, how much they paid and to which elections or referendum it pertains. Sponsoring ads from outside the EU is prohibited in the three-month period leading up to elections. All online political ads are available in an online ad repository. Under the new rules, separate and explicit consent must be obtained to use personal data for targeted ads, while the use of special categories of personal data (e.g. ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation) or minors’ data are banned. MEPs debate.

Transparency and targeting of political advertising: MEPs debate

This news item shows extracts from the signature of 3 COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, and by José Manuel ALBARES, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council. "Fishing in the GFCM Agreement Area", the digital information exchange in terrorism cases "CTR", alignment with Union rules on the protection of personal data "Alignment Directive"

LEX signing ceremony: signature of 3 COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and José Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council

MEPs of the Committee on Internal market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) vote on the raft Report on the proposal on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services. Extracts from the vote and statement by Kim VAN SPARRENTAK (Greens/EFA), Rapporteur.

Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services: extracts from the vote statement by Kim VAN SPARRENTAK (Greens/EFA, NL)

The infoclips illustrates the devices which fall under the requirements of the Cyber Resilience Act, like smart vacuum cleaners, smart washing machine, smart watches, security cameras, etc. The latest proposal in the EU Cyber Resilience Act Introduces mandatory cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements and it covers a broad range of devices - it would include all products that are connected either directly or indirectly to another device or network, including hardware, software and ancillary services and would impose obligations on manufacturers, importers, and distributors of these products to provide duty of care across their whole life cycle. The proposal aims to ensure better protection for consumers through increasing the responsibility of manufacturers by obliging them to provide security support and software updates to address identified vulnerabilities, and providing them with information about cybersecurity of products they buy and use.

Infoclip: EU Cyber Resilience Act, better protection for smart devices

MEPs vote on the following topics: Ecodesign regulation - Alessandra Moretti; Fees and charges payable to the European Medicines Agency - Report: Cristian-Silviu Buşoi; Fishing in the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Agreement area - Ladislav Ilčić; Digital information exchange in terrorism cases - Patryk Jaki; Exchange of information and cooperation concerning terrorist offences: alignment with Union rules on the protection of personal data - Patryk Jaki.

Voting session on Ecodesign regulation and other topics

MEPs debate the US-EU data privacy framework, an attempt to create a legal framework to allow the transfer of personal data to the US, while ensuring an adequate level of protection equivalent to the GDPR. Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs.

Adequacy of the protection afforded by the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework: closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs

MEPs debate the US-EU data privacy framework, MEPs debate the US-EU data privacy framework, an attempt to create a legal framework to allow the transfer of personal data to the US, while ensuring an adequate level of protection equivalent to the GDPR.

Adequacy of the protection afforded by the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework: MEPs debate

MEPs debate the US-EU data privacy framework, MEPs debate the US-EU data privacy framework, an attempt to create a legal framework to allow the transfer of personal data to the US, while ensuring an adequate level of protection equivalent to the GDPR. Opening statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice.

Adequacy of the protection afforded by the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework: opening statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

The data act establishes common rules governing the sharing of data generated by the use of connected products or related services (e.g. the internet of things, industrial machines) to ensure fairness in data sharing contracts. Closing statements by Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market and by Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur.

Data Act: closing statements by Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market and by Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur

The data act establishes common rules governing the sharing of data generated by the use of connected products or related services (e.g. the internet of things, industrial machines) to ensure fairness in data sharing contracts. Opening statements by Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, Adam BIELAN (ECR, PL), IMCO; Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO (S&D, ES), AFCO; Sergey LAGODINSKY (Greens/EFA, DE), LIBE and by Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Data Act: opening statement by Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, Adam BIELAN (ECR, PL), Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO (S&D, ES), Sergey LAGODINSKY (Greens/EFA, DE), and by Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market

EPRS identifies and frames some of the top key issues that might feature prominently in public debate and on the political agenda of the European Union this year. In times of crises and war, what are the challenges we must face and choices we have to make? Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Cyber resilience in the EU

Wojciech Wiewiórowski is the European Data Protection Supervisor. He was appointed by a joint decision of the European Parliament and the Council on 5 December 2019 for a term of five years.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Wojciech WIEWIÓROWSKI , European Data Protection Supervisor: arrival and roundtable

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the Data Protection Commissioner v Facebook Ireland Limited, Maximillian Schrems (“Schrems II”) - Case C-311/18; and on the adequate protection of personal data by the United Kingdom. Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, and Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Secretary of State for European Affairs of Portugal, and President in office of the Council of the European Union

Joint debate on data protection adequacy: closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, and Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Secretary of State for European Affairs of Portugal, Council of the European Union

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the Data Protection Commissioner v Facebook Ireland Limited, Maximillian Schrems (“Schrems II”) - Case C-311/18; and on the adequate protection of personal data by the United Kingdom.

Joint debate on data protection adequacy: MEPs debate 2/2

Joint debate on data protection adequacy: MEPs debate 1/2

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the Data Protection Commissioner v Facebook Ireland Limited, Maximillian Schrems (“Schrems II”) - Case C-311/18; and on the adequate protection of personal data by the United Kingdom. Opening statements by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Secretary of State for European Affairs of Portugal, President in office of the Council of the European Union and by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice.

Joint debate on data protection adequacy: opening statements by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Secretary of State for European Affairs of Portugal, Council of the European Union, and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

During the plenary session (24-25 March 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on a European strategy for data. MEPs debate

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