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. 

Eleven leading industry associations representing the ICT, High Tech, Online, E-Commerce and Advertising and Marketing Services have joined forces to issue a set of five concrete recommendations to the European Commission for a modernised EU legal framework on Data Protection. 

“The revision of data protection rules in the EU should enhance harmonisation and provide the legal certainty which will help deliver a fully functioning Single Market”, said John Higgins, Director-General of DIGITALEUROPE, speaking on behalf of the ICDP.    

According to the ICDP this approach will preserve the fundamental right of citizens to privacy. Together with the call by policy-makers that applicable law needs clarification, self regulation should be promoted and a move towards a country of origin approach should be adopted; companies will be more easily able to comply with laws across Europe.  

The ICDP further stresses the need to simplify and streamline overly strict, bureaucratic and burdensome data protection rules to the benefit of Europe’s digital economy, and to bring added protection to citizens. 

“The current review presents a unique opportunity to enhance European competitiveness. In its effort to stimulate innovation and enable the EU to deliver on the promises of growth and jobs, Europe must encourage and enable companies to compete on the global stage by streamlining and simplifying the EUs international data transfer rules,” concluded Higgins.