EPIC International Program
EPIC's international work promotes privacy and open government laws and policies globally with a focus on EU-US relations. EPIC pursues international privacy and freedom of information cases and submits amicus briefs before the European Court of Human Rights and other European institutions. EPIC facilitates civil society participation in OECD's work.
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Top News
- European Data Protection Supervisor Calls for Stronger Protections for Electronic Communications: The top European data protection official, the European Data Protection Supervisor, has called for strong privacy protections in the "ePrivacy Directive", an updated framework to safeguard personal information. "The scope of new ePrivacy rules needs to be broad enough to cover all forms of electronic communications irrespective of network or service used." The Data Protection Supervisor also said the legislation should "allow users to use end-to- end encryption without back doors". NGOs and data protection officials have also called for the reform of the European legislation after the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation. EPIC has urged the FCC to establish a comprehensive framework for communications privacy, noting the work now underway in Europe to update privacy laws. (Jul. 27, 2016)
- Irish Court Approves EPIC as Amicus in Schrems Case: The Irish High Court has accepted EPIC's application to participate in a case about data protection rights and Facebook's contractual clauses. The case follows Max Schrems' complaint to the Irish Data Protection Commissioner after the European Court of Justice's decision to strike down the Safe Harbor arrangement. EPIC will provide the Irish Court, and perhaps also the Court of Justice, expert opinion on U.S. surveillance law. EPIC recently joined a case before the European Court of Human Rights concerning the activities of British and U.S. intelligence organizations. EPIC has appeared as a "friend of the court" in almost 100 cases in the United States concerning emerging privacy and civil liberties issues. (Jul. 19, 2016)
- EPIC's Rotenberg Outlines Need for International Privacy Framework (Jun. 17, 2016) +
- Top European Privacy Official Rejects EU-US "Privacy Shield" (May. 31, 2016) +
- European Parliament Requires Changes to Privacy Shield (May. 26, 2016) +
- Top EU Legal Advisor Says IP Addresses are PII (May. 12, 2016) +
- European Parliament Adopts Comprehensive Data Protection Regulation (Apr. 14, 2016) +
- EU Officials Call for Changes in Privacy Agreement (Apr. 13, 2016) +
- TACD Opposes "Privacy Shield," Urges Rejection by EU (Apr. 7, 2016) +
- EPIC's Rotenberg Urges European Parliament to Condition "Privacy Shield' on End of 702 Surveillance (Mar. 17, 2016) +
- NGOs - "Privacy Shield" is Failed Approach for EU-US Data Protection (Mar. 16, 2016) +
- "Privacy Shield" Released, New Questions Raised (Feb. 29, 2016) +
- European Commission Wrongly Denies EPIC's Request For "Privacy Shield" (Feb. 26, 2016) +
- "Judicial Redress Act" Provides Little Redress (Feb. 12, 2016) +
- Department of Commerce: Privacy Shield "does not exist" (Feb. 10, 2016) +
- Hackers Breach US Government Database, No Recourse for Non-Americans (Feb. 9, 2016) +
- EPIC Seeks Release of "Privacy Shield," Secret Data Transfer Agreement (Feb. 4, 2016) +
- Privacy Commissioners to Review "Privacy Shield" (Feb. 3, 2016) +
- Anticipating Annulment, EU-US Negotiators Sign Off on "Privacy Shield" (Feb. 2, 2016) +
- Schrems Responds to US Lobby Groups on Safe Harbor (Jan. 29, 2016) +
- "Clock is ticking" on Safe Harbor, says European Consumer Organization (Jan. 29, 2016) +
- EPIC Celebrates International Privacy Day (Jan. 28, 2016) +
- U.S. Law Firm Argues U.S. Privacy Law "Essentially Equivalent" (Jan. 27, 2016) +
- EPIC v. DOJ: EPIC Prevails, DOJ Releases Secret EU-US Umbrella Agreement (Jan. 25, 2016) +
- EPIC Seeks to Intervene in Privacy Case Before European Court of Human Rights (Jan. 22, 2016) +
- EPIC Urges Senate to Postpone Action on Judicial Redress Act (Jan. 16, 2016) +
- EPIC Seeks Default Judgment in Umbrella Agreement Lawsuit (Jan. 6, 2016) +
- European Institutions Conclude Data Protection Reform (Dec. 15, 2015) +
- Senate Postpones Action on Weak EU-US Privacy Measure (Dec. 12, 2015) +
- EPIC Celebrates Human Rights Day (Dec. 10, 2015) +
- Austrian Supreme Court to Consider Schrems' Case against Facebook (Dec. 4, 2015) +
- Schrems Pursues Legal actions to Block Data Transfers to the US (Dec. 2, 2015) +
- NGOs Reject "Safe Harbor 2.0," Urge EU and US to Protect Fundamental Rights (Nov. 12, 2015) +
- European Commission Issues Guidance on Data Transfers Post-Schrems (Nov. 6, 2015) +
- EPIC Sues for Release of Secret EU-US "Umbrella Agreement" (Nov. 4, 2015) +
- EPIC to Call For Comprehensive Overhaul of U.S. Privacy Law (Nov. 2, 2015) +
- Civil Society Leaders in Amsterdam Issue Declaration on Fundamental Rights (Oct. 28, 2015) +
- After FOI Request, EPIC Obtains Secret "Umbrella Agreement" from the EU Commission (Oct. 23, 2015) +
- House Passes Faux Privacy Bill (Oct. 21, 2015) +
- Case Against Facebook Moves Forward in Ireland (Oct. 20, 2015) +
- European Data Protection Authorities Conclude Data Transfers under Safe Harbor Now Unlawful (Oct. 17, 2015) +
- European Court Strikes Down "Safe Harbor," Focus Shifts to Adequacy of US Privacy Laws (Oct. 6, 2015) +
- EPIC Expresses Support for Advocate General Opinion in Schrems Case (Sep. 28, 2015) +
- Decision by EU Legal Advisor Signals End of "Safe Harbor" (Sep. 23, 2015) +
- Google Ordered to Comply with Ruling of European High Court (Sep. 21, 2015) +
- New Report Highlights Consumer Goals for EU Privacy Law (Sep. 17, 2015) +
- European Privacy Supervisor Proposes Ethics Board (Sep. 12, 2015) +
- EU and US Reach Agreement on Data Protection for Investigations (Sep. 9, 2015) +
- Top EU Officials Calls Privacy Reform "Europe's Big Opportunity" (Jul. 27, 2015) +
- France Tells Google Apply Right to Be Forgotten Worldwide or Face Fines (Jun. 12, 2015) +
- EU NGOs Push for Strong Data Protection Legislation (Jun. 9, 2015) +
- European Court of Justice Hears Case Challenging "Safe Harbor" Agreement and NSA Spying (Mar. 24, 2015) +
- EU Officials: Court Ruling on "Right to be Forgotten" Applies Worldwide (Dec. 1, 2014) +
- European Privacy Groups Boycott Google Roadshow (Nov. 5, 2014) +
- Japan Adopts "Right to Be Forgotten" (Oct. 14, 2014) +
- Privacy Panel Backs PRISM Program (Jul. 3, 2014) +
- EU Progress on Data Protection (Jun. 9, 2014) +
- European High Court Strikes Down Data Retention Law (Apr. 8, 2014) +
- "I will reform our surveillance programs," President Obama Tells Nation (Jan. 29, 2014) +
- EPIC Gives 2014 International Award to European Parliament Member Jan Albrecht (Jan. 27, 2014) +
- European Parliament Committee Approves Comprehensive Privacy Law (Oct. 21, 2013) +
- EPIC's Rotenberg Addresses European Parliament (Oct. 3, 2013) +
- OECD Releases Updated Privacy Guidelines (Sep. 15, 2013) +
- EPIC Supports International Principles for Privacy Protection (Jul. 31, 2013) +
- European Parliament to Investigate US NSA Surveillance Programs and impact on EU Citizens' Privacy (Jul. 5, 2013) +
- European Commissioner Asks Attorney General to Explain US Spying (Jun. 13, 2013) +
- EU Citizens Launch "Naked Citizen Campaign" to Safeguard Privacy (May. 8, 2013) +
- US NGOs Urge US Government To Support EU Privacy Proposals (Feb. 5, 2013) +
- European Parliament Moves Forward on Privacy Update (Jan. 8, 2013) +
- CPDP 2013 Calls for Papers in Advance of January Conference (Sep. 7, 2012) +
- U.S. Consumer Groups Endorse Proposed European Privacy Law (Sep. 5, 2012) +
- European Consumer Organizations Back New EU Privacy Effort (Aug. 22, 2012) +
- US Pushes Forward Flawed International Privacy Framework (Jul. 30, 2012) +
- European Expert Group Affirms Privacy Rules for Cloud Service Providers (Jul. 3, 2012) +
- EU and US Privacy Officials Convene (Mar. 19, 2012) +
- EPIC Expresses Support for International Privacy Convention (Jan. 27, 2012) +
- Senator Leahy Expresses Support for International Privacy Day (Jan. 24, 2012) +
- EU Justice Minister Warns US on "Self Regulation," Draft European Privacy Law Now Available (Dec. 7, 2011) +
- European Data Protection Supervisor Suggests Repeal of Data Retention Directive (Jun. 3, 2011) +
- European Privacy Officials Release New Report on Mobile Privacy (May. 19, 2011) +
- EPIC's Rotenberg Repeats Call for US to Ratify International Privacy Convention (Jan. 28, 2011) +
- European Data Protection Supervisor Endorses Commission Strategy for Strong and Effective Data Protection (Nov. 29, 2010) +
More top news
EPIC International Privacy Project
Currently Featured Topics
- Privacy Shield EU-U.S. Data Transfer Arrangement
- Max Schrems v Irish Data Protection Commissioner (Safe Harbor)
- Article 29 Working Party
- EU-US Umbrella Agreement
- Council of Europe Privacy Convention
- Data Retention
- EU Data Protection Directive
- EU-US Airline Passenger Data Disclosure
- Right to be Forgotten
Amicus
FOIA
Comments
- In the Matter of Apperian, Inc., et al. ("Safe Harbor comments"), Feb. 20, 2014
Testimony
- Marc Rotenberg, "The Reform of the EU Data Protection Framework— Building Trust in a Digital and Global World," Committee of the European Parliament on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs, European Parliament (October 2012).
- EPIC, Comments submitted in consideration of the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party, "Working Document on Data Protection Issues related to RFID Technology" (April 2005).
- Marc Rotenberg, Privacy and Data Protection, Committee on Citizen's Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs, and the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Markets, European Parliament (February 2000).
Additional Topics
Important International Documents
- Draft COE Declaration on Freedom of Communication on the Internet. November 29, 2002.
- Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that " No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks."
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also includes a provision for privacy protection similar to the article in the Universal Declaration.
- In February 2014, British European Parliament Member Claude Moraes released a report on government surveillance by the United States and EU member states and the effect of these programs on citizens’ fundamental rights.
- The OECD Guidelines is one of the primary documents for international privacy protection. The Guidelines were set out in 1981 and concern primarily stored data. For more information, see EPIC: OECD Releases Updated Guidelines.
- The Council of Europe Convention is another European approach to privacy protection from 1981. Its requirements are binding on all signatory countries. See Also EPIC: Council of European Privacy Convention.
- The EC Data Protection Directive is the current focus of privacy discussion in Europe. The directive attempts to harmonize the various national privacy laws in Europe to promote European-wide commerce. The current version is likely to undergo further changes before it is finally adopted by the European Community.
- The UN Resolution on Surveillance was adopted in December 2013, in light of the Snowden disclosures, unanimously recognizing online privacy as a fundamental right. The resolution called on member states to adopt laws and procedures that comport with international law, emphasizing that "the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, including the right to privacy."
- In November 2013, the European Union Adopted a resolution on Internet Freedom, identifying central pillars of that freedom which included promoting the accessibility and openness of the Internet and the privacy rights of Internet users.
- In 2012, the EU began considering a draft proposal to comprehensively update the 1995 General Data Protection Regulation. In October 2013, the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) voted to adopt a revised draft which contains new regulations on private use of personal data and law enforcement use of personal data. The draft, which seeks to protect the “fundamental right[]… to the protection of personal data,” now must be passed by the European Parliament to become law. See Also EPIC: EU Data Protection Directive.
- In December 2012, Jan Phillip Albrecht, a German Member of the European Parliament, rappeteur of the LIBE Committee, and a prominent privacy advocate, released a report proposing amendments to the 2012 Data Protection Regulation.
More International Documents
Resources
- Privacy International maintains a privacy archive of international materials on privacy protection, including laws, treaties, country reports, and proposed standards.
News
- Commercial Court Affirms Legal Principles on Admission of an Amicus Curiae, Lexology, August 3, 2016
- Watchdog takes bizarre legal route in data privacy case, Irish Times, July 28, 2016
- Schrems and Facebook privacy case: next round set for February, Irish Times, July 25, 2016
- Facebook judge makes 'friends' with US but 'unfriends' Ibec, Irish Independent, July 20, 2016
- US Joins Case Over Facebook Data Transfers From EU, Law360, July 20, 2016
- US govt can join legal action over data transfers - High Court, RTÉ News, July 19, 2016
- US government joins legal challenge of EU-US data transfers, Computer Weekly, July 19, 2016
- US to join Irish Facebook case, The Hill, July 19, 2016
- Microsoft Backs Emerging European Privacy Shield Agreement, Redmond Magazine, July 11, 2016
- A Tale of Shields & Swords or Are Data Transfers between the EU and the US legal once again?, JDSupra, May 6, 2016
- Google, Europe and Privacy, New York Times (Opinion), May 2, 2016
- EU Disdains U.S. Surveillance, but Seeks Easier Access, Bloomberg BNA, May 2, 2016
- EU privacy advocates complain data-sharing pact not good enough, Christian Science Monitor, April 13, 2016
- EU Regulators Challenge EU-US Data Protection Deal, Newsfactor, April 13, 2016
- They’re Right to Distrust U.S. Data Security, Wall Street Journal (Opinion), March 22, 2016
- No More Safe Harbor, Harvard Political Review, March 21, 2016
- Cracks emerge in EU US data 'shield', EU Observer, March 18, 2016
- 'Privacy Shield' Data Transfer Deal Needs More Work, EU Told, Law360, March 17, 2016
- Big Hurdles Still Stand In Way of Future U.S.-EU Data-Sharing, Fortune, March 17, 2016
- EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Agreement Released, Lexology, March 1, 2016
- EU-US data deal incompatible with EU law and fundamental rights, Statewatch, February 15, 2016
- Cryptic Safe Harbor Pact 'Privacy Shield': Public, Possibly Soon, Forbes, February 6, 2016
- EU-US Privacy Shield offers flimsy protection, InfoWorld, February 5, 2016
- The new Safe Harbor agreement: Will it survive Europe’s paranoia?, American Enterprise Institute, February 5, 2016
- U.S. and European Officials Fail to Reach Agreement for New Data Transfer Deal, JDSupra, February 4, 2016
- U.S. and Europe in ‘Safe Harbor’ Data Deal, but Legal Fight May Await, New York Times, February 2, 2016
- Negotiators miss deadline for transatlantic data agreement, The Hill, February 1, 2016
- EU lawmakers skeptical new data deal will hold up in court, The Hill, February 1, 2016
- Battle over spying versus legitimate data transfer heats up in Congress, Christian Science Monitor, January 29, 2016
- Données personnelles : le projet « Safe Harbor 2 » dans l’impasse, Le Monde, January 28, 2016
- EU-US Safe Harbor: Judicial Redress Act Vote Delayed, Forbes, January 21, 2016
- EU regulators could freeze data transfers with US, The Hill, January 21, 2016
- EU wants tougher privacy controls in new Safe Harbor, The Hill, January 19, 2016
- EU privacy watchdogs to meet over US data standards, The Hill, January 15, 2016
- EPIC Says DOJ Lost Data Pact Release Suit By Default, Law360, January 8, 2016
More news
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