Privacy & Information Security Law Blog

As companies in the EU and the U.S. prepare for the application of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) in May 2018, Hunton & Williams’ Global Privacy and Cybersecurity partner Aaron Simpson discusses with Forcepoint the key, significant changes from the EU Directive that companies must comply with before next year. Accountability, expanded data subject rights, breach notification, sanctions and data transfer mechanisms are a few requirements that Simpson explores in detail. He reminds companies that, in the coming year, it will be very important to ...

On April 12, 2017, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (“CIPL”) at Hunton & Williams LLP issued a discussion paper on Certifications, Seals and Marks under the GDPR and Their Roles as Accountability Tools and Cross-Border Data Transfer Mechanisms (the “Discussion Paper”). The Discussion Paper sets forth recommendations concerning the implementation of the EU General Data Protection Regulation’s (“GDPR’s”) provisions on the development and use of certification mechanisms. The GDPR will become effective on May 25, 2018. The EU Commission, the Article 29 Working Party, individual EU data protection authorities (“DPAs”) and other stakeholders have begun to consider the role of GDPR certifications and how to develop and implement them. CIPL’s Discussion Paper is meant as formal input to that process.

On February 22, 2017, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had reached settlement agreements (“the Proposed Agreements”) with three U.S. companies charged with deceiving consumers about their participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Cross-Border Privacy Rules (“APEC CBPR”) system. The three companies are Sentinel Labs, Inc. (which provides endpoint protection software), SpyChatter, Inc. (which markets a private messaging app) and Vir2us, Inc. (which distributes cybersecurity software). In separate complaints, the FTC alleged that each company falsely represented in its online privacy policy that it participated in the APEC CBPR program (“the Program”), when in fact none of the companies have ever been certified as required by the Program. The Program requires participants to undergo a review by an APEC-recognized accountability agent, whose review certifies that participants meet the Program’s standards. The Program is based on nine data privacy principles: preventing harm, notice, collection limitation, use choice, integrity, security safeguards, access and correction, and accountability.

As previously published on the Data Privacy Laws blog, Pablo A. Palazzi, partner at Buenos Aires law firm Allende & Brea, provides the following report.

Earlier this month, the Argentine Data Protection Agency (“DPA”) posted the first draft of a new data protection bill (the “Draft Bill”) on its website. Argentina’s current data protection bill was enacted in December 2000. Argentina was the first Latin American country to be recognized as an adequate country by the European Union.

On November 17, 2016, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (“CIPL”) at Hunton & Williams LLP issued a white paper on Ensuring the Effectiveness and Strategic Role of the Data Protection Officer under the General Data Protection Regulation (the “White Paper”). The White Paper sets forth guidance and recommendations concerning the interpretation and implementation of the GDPR’s provisions relating to the role of the Data Protection Officer (“DPO”).

On October 19, 2016, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), the Federal Reserve System (the “Fed”) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking suggesting new cybersecurity regulations for banks with assets totaling more than $50 billion (the “Proposed Standards”).

On October 13, 2016, Elizabeth Denham, the UK Information Commissioner, suggested that directors of companies who violate data protection laws should be personally liable to pay fines at a House of Commons Public Bill Committee meeting when discussing the latest draft of the Digital Economy Bill (the “Bill”). The Bill is designed to enable businesses and individuals to access fast, digital communications services, promote investment in digital communications infrastructure and support the “digital transformation of government.” Measures to improve the digital landscape contained in the Bill include the introduction of a new Electronic Communications Code and more effective controls to protect citizens from nuisance calls. More controversially, however, the Bill also contains provisions both enabling and controlling the sharing of data between public authorities and private companies.

Recently, the National Privacy Commission (the “Commission”) of the Philippines published the final text of its Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10173, known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (the “IRR”). The IRR has a promulgation date of August 24, 2016, and went into effect 15 days after the publication in the official Gazette.

The Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) recently issued updates to Circular A-130 covering the management of federal information resources. OMB revised Circular A-130 “to reflect changes in law and advances in technology, as well as to ensure consistency with Executive Orders, Presidential Directives, and other OMB policy.” The revised policies are intended to transform how privacy is addressed across the branches of the federal government.

This post has been updated. 

On June 17, 2016, the National Privacy Commission (the “Commission”) of the Philippines released draft guidelines entitled, Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (“IRR”), for public consultation.

Under the IRR, the processing of personal data has to adhere to the principles of transparency, legitimate purpose and proportionality. The IRR defines personal data as personal information, sensitive information and privileged information. Sensitive information refers to personal information about an individual’s race, ethnicity, health, education, genetic or sexual life of a person, proceedings related to an offense committed by a person, health records and tax returns. According to the IRR, the personal information controller should take organizational, physical and technical security measures for data protection. Such security measures include the designation of a privacy officer, limitations on physical access and the adoption of technical and logical security measures.

On May 19, 2016, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) announced that its multistakeholder process to develop best practices to address privacy, transparency and accountability issues related to private and commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”) had concluded with the group reaching a consensus on a best practices document. As we previously reported, the NTIA announced in March 2015 the multistakeholder process in response to a Presidential Memorandum issued by the White House in February 2015, which directed NTIA to facilitate discussion between private sector entities to develop standards for commercial UAS use.

On March 16, 2016, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (“CIPL”) at Hunton & Williams LLP co-hosted a one-day workshop in Amsterdam, Netherlands, together with the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice, to kick off CIPL’s new long-term project on the implementation of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).

On April 14, 2016, after four years of drafting and negotiations, the long awaited EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) has been adopted at the EU level. Following the EU Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs’ vote earlier this week and the EU Parliament in plenary session, the GDPR is now officially EU law and will directly apply in all EU countries, replacing EU and national data protection legislation.

After much debate, the final version of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) is expected to be adopted by the European Parliament this week and to take effect in early 2018. The GDPR will significantly change EU data protection law in several areas, affecting all businesses in the energy, financial, health care, real estate, manufacturing, retail, technology and transportation industries, among others. To assist in-house lawyers and privacy professionals with understanding the new GDPR and planning ahead for implementation, Hunton & Williams’ Privacy and Cybersecurity practice lawyers have released The EU General Data Protection Regulation, a Guide for In-House Lawyers covering these strategic areas:

On March 16, 2016, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (“CIPL”) at Hunton & Williams LLP will co-host a one-day workshop in Amsterdam, Netherlands, together with the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice, to kick off a new long-term CIPL project on the implementation of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).

On February 25, 2016, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (“APEC”) issued a press release announcing the decision by the Joint Oversight Panel of the APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group to approve the Japan Institute for Promotion of Digital Economy and Community (“JIPDEC”) as a new “Accountability Agent” under the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (“CBPR”) system. Along with TRUSTe, JIPDEC will now be able to independently assess the compliance of companies under the APEC CBPR system. With this approval, Japan is now a fully operational participant in the APEC CBPR system.

On February 16, 2016, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris released the California Data Breach Report 2012-2015 (the “Report”) which, among other things, provides (1) an overview of businesses’ responsibilities regarding protecting personal information and reporting data breaches and (2) a series of recommendations for businesses and state policy makers to follow to help safeguard personal information.

On January 28, 2016, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (“CIPL”) held a special roundtable at Hunton & Williams’ Brussels office to examine the “essential equivalence” requirement for protection of data transfers to non-EU countries set by the Court of Justice of the European Union’s (“CJEU's”) Schrems decision. The roundtable brought together leading lawyers, corporate privacy officers, legal experts, regulators and policymakers to discuss the critical issues and impact of the new “essential equivalence” requirement for global data transfers set by the CJEU, and its relevance to the current EU-U.S. negotiations of a new Safe Harbor agreement.

On February 22, 2016, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (“CIPL”), together with TRUSTe, the Information Accountability Foundation and Information Integrity Solutions, will co-host a workshop on Building a Dependable Framework for Privacy, Innovation and Cross-Border Data Flows in the Asia-Pacific Region in Lima, Peru. The workshop will be held in the margins of the upcoming meetings of the APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group and its Data Privacy Subgroup in Lima from February 23-27, 2016.

On December 17, 2015, after three years of drafting and negotiations, the European Parliament and Council of the European Union reached an informal agreement on the final draft of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (the “Regulation”), which is backed by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

On November 30, 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) announced that Triple-S Management Corporation ("Triple-S"), an insurance holding company based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, agreed on behalf of certain of its subsidiaries to settle potential violations of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules with HHS’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”).

On November 19, 2015, the European Data Protection Supervisor (the “EDPS”) published an Opinion entitled Meeting the Challenges of Big Data (the "Opinion"). The Opinion outlines the main challenges, opportunities and risks of big data, and the importance placed on companies processing large volumes of personal data to implement innovative methods to comply with data protection laws.

On November 20, 2015, Markus Heyder, Vice President of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (“CIPL”) at Hunton & Williams LLP, discussed how “transparency is increasingly understood as a core component of addressing the challenges of the modern information economy” and a key catalyst for a productive and innovative information economy in an article entitled Transparency and the Future of Driverless Privacy published by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

On November 16, 2015, the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China published a draft Regulation for Couriers (the “Regulation”) and requested public comment on the Regulation. Interested parties have until mid-December 2015 to submit comments on the Regulation. The Regulation comes at a time when courier services and online shopping are growing steadily in China. Under the Regulation, the sender of a parcel will be required to fill in his or her real name and address, the telephone numbers of both the sender and the recipient, as well as the name, quantity and nature of the object being couriered.

On October 27, 2015, Hunton & Williams LLP’s Centre for Information Policy Leadership (“CIPL”) will conduct a joint workshop with Nymity on Bridging Disparate Privacy Regimes through Organizational Accountability. As a side event to the 37th International Privacy Conference in Amsterdam during the week of October 26, the workshop is specifically designed to support and further explore the theme of global “Privacy Bridges” that will be discussed at the International Privacy Conference. Organizational accountability is one of the proposed bridges in the Privacy Bridges Report which the international expert group released earlier this week.

On October 21, 2015, the EU-U.S. Privacy Bridge Initiative, a group of transatlantic privacy experts that was convened in April of 2014, released its report on Privacy Bridges – EU and US Privacy Experts in Search of Transatlantic Privacy Solutions.

On September 11, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) announced that Lyft Inc. (“Lyft”) and First National Bank Corporation (“FNB”) violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) by forcing their users to consent to receive automated text messages as a condition of using their services. The FCC warned that these violations could result in fines if they continue.

On September 22, 2015, the Article 29 Working Party (the “Working Party”) adopted an Opinion on the Cloud Select Industry Group (“C-SIG”) Code of Conduct on data protection for Cloud Service Providers (the “Code”). In the Opinion, the Working Party analyzes the Code that was drafted by the Cloud Select Industry Group (the “C-SIG”).

On August 20, 2015, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (“CIPL”) filed comments to the Indonesian Draft Regulation proposed by the Minister of Communication and Information (RPM) of the Protection of Personal Data in Electronic Systems. The comments were limited to the issue of cross-border data transfers and were submitted in the form of a new CIPL white paper entitled Cross-Border Data Transfer Mechanisms.

On August 29, 2015, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (“CIPL”) will host a half-day workshop in Cebu, Philippines, on the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (“CBPR”) and their role in enabling legal compliance and international data transfers. The CBPR are a privacy code of conduct developed by the 21 APEC member economies for cross-border data flows in the Asia-Pacific region.

On June 24, 2015, DataGuidance will host a complimentary webinar on Brazil: Towards Privacy Compliance. The panel of speakers includes Bojana Bellamy, President of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (“CIPL”) at Hunton & Williams; Esther Nunes, Partner of Pinheiro Neto Advogados; and Renato Leite Monteiro of Opice Blum, Bruno, Abrusio & Vainzof Advogados Associados. The speakers will discuss the Draft Bill for the Protection of Personal Data (Anteprojeto de Lei para a Proteção de Dados Pessoais) that was issued in January 2015. Concepts and provisions in the ...

On May 29, 2015, Article 29 Working Party Chairwoman Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin sent a letter to APEC Data Privacy Subgroup (“DPS”) Chair Danièle Chatelois, expressing the Working Party’s continued support for the collaboration between the two groups.

On May 5, 2015, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (“CIPL”) filed comments in English and Portuguese on Brazil’s draft law “on the processing of personal data to protect the personality and dignity of natural persons” (the “Draft Law”).

On March 31, 2015, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (“EPIC”) filed a petition (the “Petition”) with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit accusing the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) of unlawfully failing to include privacy rules in the FAA’s proposed framework of regulations for unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), otherwise known as drones. The Petition stems from the FAA’s November 2014 denial of another EPIC petition calling for the FAA to address the threat of privacy and civil liberties associated with the deployment of aerial drones within the U.S.

On April 14, 2015, the American Chamber of Commerce in China (“AmCham”) published a report, entitled Protecting Data Flows in the US-China Bilateral Investment Treaty (the “Report”). The Report is part of AmCham’s Policy Spotlight Series. While in principle addressed to the U.S. and Chinese teams that are currently negotiating the Bilateral Investment Treaty, the Report has been made public. It thereby provides insight into the emerging issue of data localization for the benefit of a much wider audience.

On April 15, 2015, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (“APEC”) Electronic Commerce Steering Group issued a press release announcing Canada’s participation in the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (“CBPR”) System. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration also released an official press statement.

As part of its ongoing Brazil outreach initiative, a delegation of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (“CIPL”) is in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro the week of March 23, 2015. The delegation will meet with Brazilian government representatives, organizations and experts to discuss global privacy law and best practice developments and other issues of mutual interest, as well as a joint global privacy dialogue workshop in Brazil planned for later this year.

On March 4, 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) announced a new multistakeholder process seeking comments on best practices concerning privacy, transparency and accountability issues related to the use of commercial and private unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), otherwise known as drones. The NTIA’s request was made in response to a Presidential Memorandum issued by the White House on February 15 which directed NTIA to facilitate discussion between private sector entities to develop standards for commercial UAS use.

On February 27, 2015, the White House released a highly-anticipated draft of the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2015 (the “Act”) that seeks to establish baseline protections for individual privacy in the commercial context and to facilitate the implementation of these protections through enforceable codes of conduct. The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with the primary responsibility for promulgating regulations and enforcing the rights and obligations set forth in the Act.

On February 12, 2015, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada released a research report entitled Privacy and Cyber Security - Emphasizing privacy protection in cyber security activities (the “Report”). The Report explores the interconnected relationship among cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, including common interests and challenges.

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 13, 2015, the French Data Protection Authority (the “CNIL”) published a Referential (the “Referential”) that specifies the requirements for organizations with a data protection officer (“DPO”) in France to obtain a seal for their data privacy governance procedures.

On December 29, 2014, the Hong Kong Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data published guidance (the “Guidance Note”) on the protection of personal data in cross-border data transfers. The Guidance Note was released in light of the Privacy Commissioner’s intention to elaborate on the legal restrictions governing cross-border data transfers in Hong Kong, though these have not yet gone into effect.

Former UK Information Commissioner and Centre for Information Policy Leadership (the “Centre”) Global Strategy Advisor Richard Thomas was invited to make a presentation at a roundtable on Privacy Risk Management and Next Steps at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (“OECD’s”) 37th meeting of the Working Party on Security and Privacy in the Digital Economy (“Working Party”). The meeting was attended by governmental and regulatory officials from most OECD member countries, with various other participants and observers.

In an article entitled The Rise of Accountability from Policy to Practice and Into the Cloud published by the International Association of Privacy Professinals, Bojana Bellamy, President of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (the “Centre”), outlines the rapid global uptake of “accountability” as a cornerstone of effective data protection and points to the recent ISO 27018 data privacy cloud standard as one of the latest examples.

The Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (the “Centre”) has published a second white paper in its multi-year Privacy Risk Framework Project entitled The Role of Risk in Data Protection. This paper follows the earlier white paper from June 2014 entitled A Risk-based Approach to Privacy: Improving Effectiveness in Practice.

On December 2-4, 2014, Asia Pacific Privacy Authority (“APPA”) members and invited observers and guest speakers from government, the private sector, academia and civil society met in Vancouver, Canada, to discuss privacy laws and policy issues. At the end of the open session (or “broader session”) on day two, APPA issued its customary communiqué (“Communiqué”) containing the highlights of the discussions during both the closed session on day one and the open session on day two. A side event on Big Data will be held on the morning of day three (December 4).

At the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ (“IAPP’s”) recent Europe Data Protection Congress in Brussels, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (the “Centre”) led two panels on the risk-based approach to privacy as a tool for implementing existing privacy principles more effectively and on codes of conduct as a means for creating interoperability between different privacy regimes.

On November 18, 2014, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (the “Centre”) held the second workshop in its ongoing work on the risk-based approach to privacy and a Privacy Risk Framework. Approximately 70 Centre members, privacy regulators and other privacy experts met in Brussels to discuss the benefits and challenges of the risk-based approach, operationalizing risk assessments within organizations, and employing risk analysis in enforcement. In discussing these issues, the speakers emphasized that the risk-based approach does not change the obligation to comply with privacy laws but helps with the effective calibration of privacy compliance programs.

Join us at the International Association of Privacy Professionals (“IAPP”) Data Protection Congress in Brussels, November 18-20, 2014. Hunton & Williams privacy professionals will be featured speakers in the following sessions:

The Council of the European Union has published proposed revisions to the compliance obligations of data controllers and data processors included in Chapter IV of the forthcoming EU General Data Protection Regulation (“Regulation”). This proposal was led by the current Italian Presidency and the revisions reflect input from representatives of the national governments of the EU Member States.

On August 14, 2014, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (the “Centre”) submitted its response to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (“NTIA’s”) request for public comment on big data and consumer privacy issues. The NTIA’s request, which follows the White House’s recent study of big data, the May 2014 Big Data Report, and the associated President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Report, seeks further public input on how big data impacts the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, and whether the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights should be modified to contemplate big data.

On August 6-10, 2014, the APEC Data Privacy Subgroup (“DPS”) and its parent committee, the Electronic Commerce Steering Group (“ECSG”), met in Beijing, China, for another round of negotiations, meetings and workshops. The Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams participated as part of the U.S. delegation. The principal focus of the meetings was again on the further implementation of the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (“CBPR”) system and related work relevant to cross-border interoperability. The following is a summary of highlights and outcomes from the meetings:

The Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams (the “Centre”) has published a white paper entitled A Risk-based Approach to Privacy: Improving Effectiveness in Practice. This is the first paper in the Centre’s new multi-year Privacy Risk Framework Project. It follows the Centre’s March 2014 Risk Workshop, held in Paris with Centre members, privacy experts, regulators and other stakeholders. The Risk Framework Project is the next phase of the Centre’s earlier work on organizational accountability, focusing specifically on one important aspect of accountability – conducting risk assessments that identify, evaluate and mitigate the privacy risks to individuals posed by an organization’s proposed data processing.

In response to increasing interest in a “risk-based” approach among privacy experts, including policymakers working on the proposed EU General Data Protection Regulation, the Article 29 Working Party (the “Working Party”) published a statement on the role of a risk-based approach in data protection legal frameworks (the “Statement”).

On April 16, 2014, the Article 29 Working Party (the “Working Party”) sent a letter (the “Letter”) to Lilian Mitrou, Chair of the Working Group on Information Exchange and Data Protection (the “DAPIX”) of the Council of the European Union, to support a compromise position on the one-stop-shop mechanism within the proposed EU General Data Protection Regulation (the “Proposed Regulation”).

On March 6, 2014 the Article 29 Working Party (the “Working Party”) published a comprehensive Opinion: Opinion 02/2014 on a referential for requirements for Binding Corporate Rules submitted to national Data Protection Authorities in the EU and Cross-Border Privacy Rules submitted to APEC CBPR Accountability Agents. This blog post provides an overview of the Opinion.

On December 12, 2013, Fred H. Cate, Senior Policy Advisor in the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP (the “Centre”), submitted comments in response to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (“NIST’s”) Preliminary Cybersecurity Framework (the “Preliminary Framework”). On October 22, NIST issued the Preliminary Framework, as required by the Obama Administration’s February 2013 executive order, Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (“Executive Order”), and solicited comments on the Framework. The Preliminary Framework includes standards, methodologies, procedures and processes that align policy, business and technological approaches to address cyber risks.

On September 9, 2013, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”) published its revised guidelines governing the protection of privacy and transborder flows of personal data (the “Revised Guidelines”), updating the OECD’s original guidelines from 1980 that became the first set of accepted international privacy principles.

The Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP is pleased to announce that Bojana Bellamy, global director of data privacy for Accenture, will be joining the firm as president of the Centre, effective September 2, 2013. Current Centre President, Marty Abrams, who is retiring on September 1, will stay on as an advisor to the Centre.

On June 7, 2013, the Japanese Government applied to participate in the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules program. Japan’s application will be reviewed to verify that Japan has the necessary legal mechanisms to ensure that certified companies can be held accountable. If approved, Japan will join the United States and Mexico, which also are APEC-certified economies, and it is likely a number of Japanese seal programs will apply for certification as accountability agents. Once the requisite elements are in place, Japanese companies will be able to apply for approval of their cross-border privacy rules.

On June 3, 2013, the French Data Protection Authority (“CNIL”) published an article outlining the importance of binding corporate rules (“BCRs”) for data processors, and describing how to use them.

On June 6, 2013, a group of 300 gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, the second oldest city in South America, for the First Latin America Congress on Data Protection. The Congress was organized by Colombia’s data protection authority, the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce, and the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP. “Latin America is very important to Centre member companies, and education is a key element of the Centre’s Latin America Project. So, we were very pleased to help the Superintendent organize the program,” said Centre President Marty Abrams.

On May 29, 2013, Hunton & Williams hosted a webinar, A Discussion on the Proposed EU Regulation: Developing a More Creative Approach. Hunton & Williams partner Bridget Treacy moderated the session with former UK Information Commissioner Richard Thomas, Global Strategy Advisor of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams. Richard Thomas discussed the need for a more creative and flexible approach to the proposed EU General Data Protection Regulation, with better-defined outcomes and targeting businesses that present the greatest risks. He also ...

On May 13, 2013, the Article 29 Working Party (the “Working Party”) adopted an Advice Paper on profiling (the “Advice Paper”). The Advice Paper serves as the national data protection authorities’ contribution to the ongoing legislative debate before the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on the proposed EU General Data Protection Regulation (the “Proposed Regulation”).

On February 12, 2013, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office published a further analysis of the European Commission’s proposed General Data Protection Regulation (the “Proposed Regulation”). This latest analysis supplements the initial analysis paper on the Proposed Regulation published on February 27, 2012. Although the general views expressed in its initial paper stand, the ICO has now provided greater detail regarding its views of the substantive provisions of the Proposed Regulation.

On March 15, 2013, European Data Protection Supervisor Peter Hustinx sent a letter to Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (“LIBE”), with his comments regarding certain aspects of the European Commission’s proposed revised data protection framework. On March 20, 2013, Peter Hustinx was invited to present his comments during a LIBE Committee meeting, together with the President of the Article 29 Working Party, Jacob Kohnstamm.

On March 7, 2013, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) published guidance (the “Guidance”) on Bring Your Own Device (“BYOD”) to explain to data controllers “what they need to consider when permitting the use of personal devices to process personal data for which they are responsible.” BYOD refers to the use of individuals’ personal devices to access and store corporate information.

On January 22, 2013, the Article 29 Working Party released Opinion 01/2013 (the “Opinion”) on the implementing acts contained in the European Commission’s proposed General Data Protection Regulation (the “Proposed Regulation”).

Recently, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (“LIBE”) released a study titled Fighting cyber crime and protecting privacy in the cloud (the “Study”). The Study originally was prepared in October 2012 at the request of the LIBE Committee by the European Parliament’s Policy Department of Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs, with the help of the Centre for European Policy Studies and the Centre d’Etudes sur les Conflits.

On December 12, 2012, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP (the “Centre”) released an accountability self-assessment tool designed to help organizations evaluate their internal privacy programs and practices. The tool is the product of the Global Accountability Project for which the Centre serves as Secretariat.

On December 3, 2012, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (the “Centre”) at Hunton & Williams will co-host a special International Association of Privacy Professionals (“IAPP”) KnowledgeNet meeting in Brussels, Belgium. The meeting will explore global developments in accountability in the context of the proposed EU Data Protection Regulation and the impact of accountability on data protection management.

On November 16, 2012, European Data Protection Supervisor Peter Hustinx published an Opinion on the European Commission’s Communication on cloud computing (part of the Commission’s broader cloud computing strategy). The Opinion focuses on the accountability principle and emphasizes the importance of clearly defining the responsibilities of all parties involved in cloud computing, and analyzes specific cloud computing issues in the context of both the current EU data protection framework, as well as the proposed General Data Protection Regulation.

On November 13-15, 2012, delegates at the IAPP Europe Data Protection Congress in Brussels were given insight into how discussions with key policymakers are progressing. As European Parliament rapporteur and Member of the European Parliament Jan Philipp Albrecht aims to finalize the reform of the EU Data Protection Directive by the end of the current European Parliament’s mandate in 2014, this ambitious goal faces numerous hurdles.

On October 26, 2012, three resolutions were adopted by the closed session of the 34th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners and have been published on the conference website. Below we provide an overview of these resolutions.

The Polish Data Protection Authority (Generalny Inspektor Ochrony Danych Osbowych or “GIODO”) announced that it will host the 35th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners on September 23-27, 2013, in Warsaw, Poland. The first two days will be dedicated to the closed session, with the open sessions and side events taking place September 25-27.

In February 2013, the GIODO will facilitate the Global Accountability Project for which the Centre for Information Policy Leadership acts as Secretariat.

On October 24, 2012, Peter Hustinx, the European Data Protection Supervisor, speaking at the 34th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Uruguay, called the proposed EU Data Protection Regulation an “ambitious” undertaking, designed to achieve three goals.

First, Hustinx said the regulation is intended to provide the structure for European data protection for at least the next 20 years.

Second, the draft regulation will eliminate the wide variety of requirements that has resulted from the current EU Data Protection Directive’s being transposed into national law in 27 member states.

On October 15, 2012, the Singapore Parliament passed the Personal Data Protection Act 2012. Though a law has been under discussion for quite some time, this bill was introduced before Parliament only recently, in September of this year. The new law will apply only to data processing in the private sector as data processing by public agencies (or organizations acting on behalf of public agencies) are already subject to internal government rules. Reportedly, the bill will become law in January 2013, enforceable after 18 months, in mid-2014.

On August 15, 2012, Philippines President Benigno S. Aquino III signed the Data Privacy Act of 2012 passed earlier this year by the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives. Concerns about the creation of the National Privacy Commission and the criminal penalties associated with the Act delayed final enactment.

On July 26, 2012, acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank announced that APEC’s Joint Oversight Panel has approved the United States’ request to participate in the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules System. The panel also approved the Federal Trade Commission’s participation as the system’s first privacy enforcement authority. The next step will be for the United States to nominate one or more accountability agents for the panel’s approval. Accordingly, the Department of Commerce will publish a Federal Register Notice in the coming days to provide guidance on how potential accountability agents may seek recognition. Once a U.S. accountability agent has been approved, American companies will be able to submit their cross-border privacy rules to be recognized as meeting the APEC standard.

In a July 9, 2012 press release issued by Rodoljub Sabic, Serbia’s Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, the Commissioner commented on his meeting with Hunton & Williams’ Lisa Sotto, who was invited to Serbia by the Commissioner and the USAID-funded Judicial Reform and Government Accountability Project to provide advice and education on data protection issues.

On July 1, 2012, the Article 29 Working Party (the “Working Party”) adopted WP196 (the “Opinion”) setting out an analysis of the legal framework associated with cloud computing, as well as recommendations directed at both data controllers and data processors in the European Economic Area (the “EEA”). The Opinion identifies two data protection risks associated with the deployment of cloud computing services, namely: (1) lack of control over the data and (2) lack of information on data processing. Cloud computing and the range and geographical dispersion of the various parties involved also have raised significant uncertainty in terms of applicable law, which the Working Party previously analyzed in its Opinion 8/2010. Below is an overview of the different topics covered in the Opinion issued on July 1.

As policymakers around the world consider revisions to existing privacy and data protection law, they often refer to “interoperability” as a mechanism to facilitate the flow of data across national and regional borders. Reports released this year by the Obama Administration and the Federal Trade Commission recognize the value of interoperability to the growth of the digital economy and improving privacy compliance. Principles underlying the APEC framework would support a system for transferring data across APEC economies, and the OECD has acknowledged that regulatory authorities worldwide share the responsibility of promoting the protection of cross-border data flows. But although interoperability is expected to help lower barriers to data transfers, simplify compliance and protect individuals’ rights, there has been little discussion of how interoperability would work in practice.

On May 26, 2012, the United States government submitted its request to participate in the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (“CBPRs”) system. The CBPRs system was endorsed by APEC leaders in November 2011. The protocol requires a participating economy to submit:

• A letter of intent to participate;
• Confirmation that a privacy enforcement agency in the economy is a participant in the Cross-Border Privacy Enforcement Arrangement;
• Notice that the economy intends to make use of at least one APEC-recognized accountability agency; and
• A description of the domestic laws and other legal mechanisms to give effect to the enforcement activities related to the activities of the accountability agent, which also must include an enforcement map.

On May 4, 2012, Marty Abrams, President of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP (“the Centre”), interviewed British Columbia’s Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham during the Centre’s First Friday call. Commissioner Denham discussed the April 2012 release of “Getting Accountability Right with a Privacy Management Program,” new guidance issued by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Alberta and British Columbia. The guidance addresses the Commissioners’ expectations for accountable privacy programs as required by Canadian law. Commissioner Denham described the guidance as “a tool to help organizations comply with the law,” providing “a roadmap to sound data governance,” with clear, practical terms for organizations to achieve accountability.

As we previously reported, on May 3-4, 2012, the European data protection authorities’ (“DPAs’”) Spring Conference was held in Luxembourg, and the Data Protection Commissioners closed the conference by issuing a resolution on European data protection reform. In their resolution, the Data Protection Commissioners expressed general satisfaction with the ongoing modernization of the data protection frameworks of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Following a meeting in Sopot, Poland, on April 24, 2012, the International Working Group on Data Protection in Telecommunications (the “Working Group”), led by the Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, issued a Working Paper that focuses on privacy and data protection issues related to the use of cloud computing in the international context. The Working Paper aims to reduce uncertainty regarding the definition of cloud computing and how the technology intersects with privacy, data protection and other legal issues.

On May 2, 2012, Australia’s Attorney General Nicola Roxon announced that the Australian government will introduce a bill to the Australian Parliament that will enact a number of the recommendations from the 2008 Law Reform Commission Report (ALRC Report 108) and reform privacy law in Australia. Discussion drafts of segments of the bill were considered by a Senate Committee in 2011. On May 4, Australian Privacy Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim presented an overview of the draft legislation at an event held during the iappANZ Privacy Awareness Week. Commissioner Pilgrim noted that the legislative package includes:

On May 3, 2012, Viviane Reding, Justice Commissioner and European Commission Vice-President, delivered a speech during the European data protection authorities’ (“DPAs’”) Spring Conference, which was held in closed sessions in Luxembourg. In her speech, Commissioner Reding discussed how the proposed EU Data Protection Regulation aimed to empower the DPAs and addressed some of the DPAs’ primary concerns with the reform.

Join Hunton & Williams at the 2012 Europe Data Protection Intensive, now hosted by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (“IAPP”) in London, April 25-26, 2012. Hunton & Williams privacy professionals will be featured speakers in the following sessions:

On April 17, 2012, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Alberta and British Columbia released guidance on their expectations for accountable privacy programs as required by Canadian law. The guidance, entitled “Getting Accountability Right with a Privacy Management Program,” discusses the building blocks of a comprehensive privacy program for businesses of all sizes. Although intended for a Canadian audience, the paper likely will have worldwide influence given recent privacy law developments around the globe.

On March 23, 2012, the Article 29 Working Party (the “Working Party”) adopted an Opinion on the European Commission’s data protection law reform proposals, including the draft Regulation that is of particular importance for businesses. The Working Party’s Opinion serves as the national data protection authorities’ contribution to the legislative process before the European Parliament and the European Council.

On March 26, 2012, the Federal Trade Commission issued a new privacy report entitled “Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: A Proposed Framework for Businesses and Policymakers.” The report charts a path forward for companies to act in the interest of protecting consumer privacy.

In his introductory remarks, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz indicated his support for Do Not Track stating, “Simply put, your computer is your property; no one has the right to put anything on it that you don’t want.” In later comments he predicted that if effective Do Not Track mechanisms are not available by the end of this year, the new Congress likely would introduce a legislative solution.

On January 25, 2012, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) published an initial statement welcoming the European Commission’s proposed new General Data Protection Regulation (the “Proposed Regulation”), and commended the Commission’s efforts to strengthen the rights of individuals, recognize important privacy concepts such as privacy by design and privacy impact assessments, and include accountability requirements.

The White House today released its long-awaited report outlining a framework for U.S. data protection and privacy policy. As expected, “Consumer Data Privacy in a Networked World: A Framework for Protecting Privacy and Promoting Global Innovation in the Global Digital Economy” articulates a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights based on the individual’s right to exercise control over what personal data companies collect from the individual and how companies use the data. The Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, which reflects principles of fair information practices and applies to personal data, sets forth individual rights for consumers and corresponding obligations of companies in connection with personal data. It also provides for the consumer’s right to:

• transparent privacy and data security practices;
• expect that companies will collect, use and disclose data in a manner consistent with the context in which it was collected;
• have their data handled in a secure manner;
• access and correct personal data;
• set reasonable limits on the personal data that companies collect and retain; and
• have personal data handled by companies with appropriate measures in place to assure they adhere to the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.

On January 25, 2012, the European Commission released a data protection law reform package, including its proposed General Data Protection Regulation (the “Proposed Regulation”). The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) has reacted positively to the Proposed Regulation, in particular commending efforts to strengthen the rights of individuals, the recognition of important privacy concepts such as privacy by design and privacy impact assessments, and new accountability requirements to ensure organizations properly demonstrate and document their data protection safeguards and procedures.

On November 13, 2011, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (“APEC”) leaders endorsed the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (“CBPRs”) system at an APEC meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Leaders’ Statement also endorsed interoperability between national and regional privacy and data protection regimes to facilitate moving data around the globe while protecting privacy.

On November 2, 2011, following welcome comments by Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (“IFAI”) Commissioner Jacqueline Peschard, the 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners opened in Mexico City with an examination of the phenomenon of “Big Data” as a definer of a new economic era. In a wide-ranging presentation, Kenneth Neil Cukier of the Economist drew into clear relief the possibilities and problems associated with combining vast stores of data and powerful analytics. He highlighted the growing ability to correlate seemingly unrelated data sets to predict behavior, reveal trends, enhance product performance and safety and derive meaning. In his remarks Cukier noted that, in an era of Big Data, much of the decision-making about data collection and use goes beyond traditional notions of privacy, touching on ethics and free will. Noting that the printing press led to the development of free speech laws, he left open the question of how Big Data may change the legal landscape.

On November 1, 2011, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership released a discussion document entitled “Implementing Accountability in the Marketplace,” at the 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Mexico City. The document reflects the collaborative effort of experts from Canada, Europe and the United States, and provides a comprehensive summary of the third year of the Centre’s work with the Accountability Project. It examines the requirements and benefits of accountability when it is applied across the marketplace, and ...

On October 13, 2011, Marty Abrams, President of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP, presented “Accountability in a Page” as part of the “What it Means to Be Accountable” plenary session at the PIPA Conference 2011 taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mr. Abrams, who leads the Centre’s Accountability Project, outlined the essential elements of accountability and described how top multinational companies are building accountability-based programs. According to Mr. Abrams, “accountability as mandated by the Canadian ...