New EU Commissioner: Right to be Forgotten must not delay reform

Newly appointed EU Justice Commissioner, Martine Reicherts, says that some parties are using the Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) to undermine the EU’s data protection reform.

“They have got it wrong. And I will not let them abuse this crucial ruling to stop us from opening the digital single market for our companies and putting in place stronger protection for our citizens,” she said in a speech on 18 August in Lyon, France.

She stressed that the ruling on Google by the European Court of Justice does not give the all-clear for people or organisations to have content removed from the web simply because they find it inconvenient.

She urged Member States to stick to their commitments. The EU Council needs to agree on strong data protection rules fast, she said.

“More and more, companies are beginning to understand that trust is key – for instance, an increasing number of companies are providing services which allow users the option of storing their data in Europe. Data protection is the new business model. It is a selling point where Europe can make the difference.”

Ms Reicherts is from Luxembourg and her previous position was at the Office for Official Publications of the European Union. She took the Justice Commissioner post when her predecessor, Viviane Reding, became an MEP in May, but will not be in the new Commission that starts in November.

Progress of the EU Data Protection draft Regulation under Italy’s Presidency

11th December 2014, London Host: Latham & Watkins

Privacy Laws & Business’ Privacy Officers Network will organise a one day Roundtable with speakers including:

1. Allegra Migliorini, Ministry of Justice, Rome, Chair DAPIX Committee under Italy’s Presidency of the EU
2. Anna Buchta, Head of litigation and legislative policy, European Data Protection Supervisor, Brussels
3. David Smith, Director Data Protection, and Deputy Information Commissioner, United Kingdom