Privacy & Information Security Law Blog

On February 4, 2015, the German government adopted a draft law to improve the enforcement of data protection provisions that are focused on consumer protection. As reported earlier, the new law would bring about a fundamental change in how German data protection law is enforced.

On February 3, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) released a Risk Alert, entitled Cybersecurity Examination Sweep Summary, summarizing observations from the recent round of cybersecurity examinations of registered broker-dealers and investment advisers under the Cybersecurity Examination Initiative. Conducted by the SEC Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) from 2013 through April 2014, the examinations inspected the cybersecurity practices of 57 registered broker-dealers and 49 registered investment advisers through interviews and document reviews. The examinations evaluated the institutions’ practices in key areas such as risk management, cybersecurity governance, network security, information protection, vendor management and incident detection.

On February 12, 2015, the International Association of Privacy Professionals (“IAPP”) will host a web conference on The Role of Risk Management in Data Protection – From Theory to Practice. Panelists will include Bojana Bellamy, President of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (“CIPL”), Fred Cate, Senior Policy Advisor of CIPL, and Hilary Wandall, Associate Vice President, Compliance and Chief Privacy Officer of Merck & Co., Inc. Together, they will lead an online discussion on some of the key considerations in risk assessment and management.

From January 30 to February 3, 2015, the APEC Data Privacy Subgroup (“DPS”) and its parent committee, the Electronic Commerce Steering Group (“ECSG”), met in Subic Bay, Philippines, for another round of negotiations and meetings. The Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams participated as part of the U.S. delegation. The principal focus of the meetings was implementing the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (“CBPR”) system, developing a corollary APEC recognition mechanism for information processors, related work relevant to cross-border interoperability, and updating the APEC Privacy Framework. The following is a summary of highlights and outcomes from the meetings.

On January 20, 2015, a group of public officials and industry representatives met in a public discussion panel in Brussels to debate the progress of the proposed EU General Data Protection Regulation (the “ Proposed Regulation”) and the major themes that are yet to be resolved. The panelist included Paul Nemitz, Director for the Fundamental Rights and Union Citizenship of the European Commission, Jan Philipp Albrecht, MEP and Vice Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and Pat Walshe, Director of Privacy and Public Policy of Groupe Speciale Mobile Association.

On January 28, 2015, in connection with Data Protection Day, newly appointed European Data Protection Supervisor (“EDPS”) Giovanni Buttarelli spoke about future challenges for data protection. Buttareli encouraged the EU “to lead by example as a beacon of respect for digital rights,” and “to be at the forefront in shaping a global, digital standard for privacy and data protection which centers on the rights of the individual.” Buttarelli stressed that in the context of global technological changes, “the EU has to make existing data protection rights more effective in practice, and to allow citizens to more easily exercise their rights.”

On January 1, 2015, Finland’s Information Security Code (2014/ 917, the “Code”) became effective. The Code introduces substantial revisions to Finland’s existing electronic communications legislation and consolidates several earlier laws into a single, unified text. Although many of these earlier laws remain unchanged, the Code includes extensive amendments in a number of areas.

On January 27, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission announced the release of a report on the Internet of Things: Privacy and Security in a Connected World (the “Report”). The Report describes the current state of the Internet of Things, analyzes the benefits and risks of its development, applies privacy principles to the Internet of Things and discusses whether legislation is needed to address this burgeoning area. The Report follows a workshop by the FTC on this topic in November 2013.

On January 28, 2015, the German conference of data protection commissioners hosted a European Data Protection Day event called Europe: Safer Harbor for Data Protection? – The Future Use of the Different Level of Data Protection between the EU and the US.

On February 11, 2015, the International Association of Privacy Professionals Australian New Zealand (“iappANZ”) will host a discussion on the risk-based approach to privacy in Sydney, Australia. Richard Thomas, Global Strategy Advisor for the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (the “Centre”), will present the Centre’s contributions to this topic including the outcomes from the workshops held in Paris and Brussels. Other guest speakers include Timothy Pilgrim, Australian Privacy Commissioner; Dr. Elizabeth Coombs, New South Wales Privacy Commissioner; and Olga Ganopolsky, General Counsel of Privacy and Data at Macquarie Group Limited. Together, they will discuss the benefits and challenges of a risk-based approach and the implications for businesses and regulators.