EU Perspective
The Need for a Balanced Approach to Internet Privacy
By Roger Coelho, Senior Policy Officer, AmCham EU
Since the early 1990s, Internet usage has skyrocketed, from just about one percent of all EU households being connected to 73 percent today. It’s become indispensable to our work and daily lives and is an ongoing source of innovation and economic growth – unique characteristics that must be protected.
The AmCham EU Position
The proposed regulation will have an impact on all sectors of the economy, regardless of size, and AmCham EU members are acutely aware of its potential impact.
Led by the Digital Economy Committee, AmCham EU’s advocacy started in early 2011 with the submission of a comprehensive position paper on data protection to the European Commission’s stakeholder consultation. In summary, our position is that rules that are too prescriptive and overly bureaucratic will be harmful to business because they limit innovation and growth – ultimately penalizing the consumer.
With the release of the proposal, AmCham EU is now preparing a series of advocacy activities that will include the drafting of a position paper and the holding of meetings with key stakeholders, as well as organizing internal information sessions.
AmCham EU’s advocacy is focused on four key areas: harmonization, simplified and business-friendly privacy rules across the EU, international cooperation, and technology neutrality.
Harmonization
The current lack of harmonization is causing legal uncertainty and unneeded bureaucracy for global companies operating in different EU countries. This leads to additional costs, administrative burdens and legal uncertainty that may deter companies from doing business in different member states and having a negative impact on competition and innovation.
Business-Friendly Privacy Rules
In order to maximize innovation capacity, notification systems and international data transfers need to be simplified. In this way, the excessive financial and human resources currently required to comply with complex and divergent systems would be better spent in efforts to enhance competitiveness and innovation.
International Cooperation
Efforts should be made to promote common, international legal principles and standards on privacy, maximizing the potential for new and emerging technologies and the opportunities that arise with global and ever-increasing data flows.
Technology Neutrality
Retaining the technological neutrality principle throughout the legal framework will enable both member states and industry to address issues as and when they arise. Consumers also benefit from technology neutrality, as they will be able to understand the privacy framework and protections regardless of the specific type of device or technology being used, therefore increasing consumer confidence and promoting economic growth.
Striking the Right Balance
Striking the right balance between data protection and innovation in technology is essential in ensuring the growth and competitiveness of the EU.
AmCham EU looks forward to working closely with all stakeholders in the coming months to ensure the EU’s legislative framework on data protection serves the needs of citizens and business both today and in the future.
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