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Public Affairs - Protecting your freedom to advertise

As the reach, importance and influence of the internet grows, so does interest from policymakers in ways to regulate it to protect the interest of the consumer. From data protection laws, e-commerce and consumer protection laws and controls on what can be advertised and to whom and how, legislation has a significant impact on any business – positive or negative.

We protect the industry through our public affairs activities. A vital part of IAB Europe’s remit is to ensure that our industry is protected from unnecessary and ill-informed legislation that would restrict the growth of the online advertising industry and promote good regulation and meaningful self-regulation to allow the sector and the advertising ecosystem to grow.

IAB Europe is the industry’s primary and respected representative for the European and international institutions. Our experienced team led by IAB Europe’s Vice President Kimon Zorbas follows and drives developments that impact the online industry and the interactive marketing and advertising to ensure that the regulators and policymakers receive the right information at the right time to inform decisions and support them with subject matter expertise. IAB Europe works jointly with its national IABs to complement the outreach at European level with national initiatives.

IAB Europe has been successful in promoting the benefits of the industry to key decision makers in the European Union such as European Parliament, European Commission, Council of Ministers, European Data Protection Supervisor and Article 29 Working Party and Council of Europe. IAB Europe also engages actively with national Data Protection Authorities and international institutions (e.g. Council of Europe, OECD and ICC), international fora and standardisation bodies (e.g. W3C).

The responsible Policy Committee includes more than 20 recognized company representative experts and is supported by the IAB staff and the Committee’s leadership, Stephan Noller (nugg.ad) acting as its Chair and Nick Stringer (IAB UK) as Vice-Chair.

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Pictures from the Consumer Benefits Survey Roundtable: Vice-President Neelie Kroes and Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP Group at the launch of the McKinsey report “Consumers driving the digital uptake”

Key initiatives:

E-Privacy Directive Transposition: providing members with the information and materials to advocate a workable solution across EEA/EU

IAB Europe OBA Framework: promoting self-regulation for online behavioural advertising (including compliance and enforcement)

Data Protection Directive Review: promoting necessary changes to improve today’s regime at EU and Member State level in cooperation with national IABs

Do-not-track (DNT): IAB Europe is a member of W3C and promotes a workable and meaningful standardisation of DNT

Advertising and IP: Evaluation and proposals on how to promote responsible advertising across the value chain.

As a member of IAB Europe you will benefit from briefings on current debates as well as updates on the progress of proposed legislation and drive the debate jointly within the Policy Committee & Board. IAB Europe provides additional support to top level staff members with advice & support on how to navigate Brussels and advises members on high-level policy strategy and company-specific matters. As a member, you will always know the status of key debates and their potential impact on your business, allowing you to develop your business strategy accordingly.

For the any questions on membership please contact our colleague Lucile Barjot, publicaffairs@iabeurope.eu

Public Affairs News

Industry offers consumers greater transparency and control over OBA

Brussels, 8th December: Industry and self-regulatory bodies are meeting today to finalise the launch of the European Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA) which will administer an innovative and revolutionary self-regulatory system for online behavioural advertising (OBA). The self-regulatory system provides Internet users with an unprecedented level of transparency and control over behavioural advertising.

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ICT INDUSTRY JOINS FORCES ON DATA PROTECTION IN EUROPE

Brussels, 28 November 2011. The recently formed Industry Coalition for Data Protection (ICDP) today called on Viviane Reding, Vice President of the European Commission, responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, to establish a coherent and harmonised framework for Data Protection in the EU. 

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IAB Europe urges EU Member States to consider negative impact of an overly strict consent for cookies (and other storing technologies)
IAB Europe and IAB Belgium launch website to demonstrate the serious consequences for the consumers’ surf experience. Read More
Europe's Online Advertising Industry Releases Self-Regulation Framework
IAB Europe has released its cross-European self-regulatory Framework for Online Behavioural Advertising (OBA), outlining good practice aimed at enhancing transparency and consumer control Read More
IAB Europe Response to European Commission Consultation on the DP Framework

The Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe  (‘IAB’) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the European Commission DG JUST’s consultation on the legal framework for the fundamental right to protection of personal data. 

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IAB Europe and McKinsey to launch economic benefits study

IAB Europe is hosting the first presentation of the study “Assessing the Consumer Benefits of Online Advertising" in the presence of Vice President  Nellie Kroes, European Commissioner, and Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP, the report sponsors and members of the media.

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The 6th edition of the EASA Blue Book is launched
The latest edition has been designed with greater emphasis on the needs and interests of advertising practitioners, and provides valuable information for policy makers, advisers, researchers and academics. Read More
Europe’s data privacy regulators’ latest opinion on cookies is out of step with online businesses and their consumers
The Article 29 Working Party “Opinion 2/2010 on online behavioural advertising”adopted today, calls for an opt-in by users for placing cookies on their PCs. Read More
March 2010 Roundup
Commissioner Reding outlines key issues for the Data protection Directive Review…EDPS publishes its opinion on fostering Data Protection and Privacy on the internet…Digital to play a key role in Europe 2020 Strategy for economic growth….IP address : personal data or not personal data?.... Consumer rights directive: maximum harmonization for distance contracts....WP 169 – Opinion 1/2010 on the concepts of “controller” and “processor”, by White and Case Read More
Public Affairs Roundup - November 2009

The November update covers the following stories: The names of the individuals appointed to the EU’s new top posts were announced... Long-awaited agreement was finally reached on the Telecoms Package... Conference on online consumer safety ....Reding speech at BEUC: “A European Digital Agenda for the New Digital Consumer” ... EU: Kuneva releases paper on steps towards securing EU Online Single Market ...Legal action against UK over confidentiality of electronic communications....plus much more

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Public Affairs Roundup - September 2009

The Lisbon Treaty has been ratified by the German Government and on 2nd October, the Irish have also approved it through a referendum. The Swedish EU Presidency has also announced its plans to appoint the new Commissioners, the high representative for foreign policy and the permanent European Council President at the EU summit on 29th and 30th October. Such plans will be dependent on a favourable outcome of the Irish referendum on the 2nd October.

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Public Affairs Roundup - December 2009
The December update covers the following stories: Next Council Presidency – Spain… Commission releases study on future of the Ubiquitous Information… Society Users’ rights to be focus of European digital strategy… Telecoms Council meets to agree on new digital strategy for Europe… BEUC outlines priorities for the new Commission… Parliament holds Privacy Meeting, discusses policies under new Lisbon Treaty… Commission gives further explanations on UCP Directive… Chair of Article 29 group: “Privacy needs to be respected”… OECD conference: Strengthening consumer protection online… EDPS: Advantages of new Agency for large-scale IT systems – Definitions for its activities needed. Read More
Special event - join us to discuss Advertising’s role in driving innovation & growth

Come and discuss Advertising’s role in driving innovation & growth at The European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday, 19 October 2011.

Participants in the panel discussion will include Members of the European Parliament and high-level representatives of the media and advertising industry

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Download IAB Europe and EASA's response to the Article 29 Working Party open Letter on OBA.

IAB Europe and EASA welcome the continued feedback and opinions of the Article 29 Working Party.

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