The European Commission organises a personal data use and protection conference to look at new challenges for privacy. Interested individuals, business leaders, consumer associations, academics, data protection supervisors and public authorities from both the EU and third countries are invited to take part.

The conference will give the opportunity to various stakeholders to express their views and questions on the new challenges for data protection and the need for an effective information management strategy in the EU.

The conference is part of the Commission’s open consultation on how the fundamental right to protection of personal data can be further developed and effectively respected. European Union is trying to improve its policies of data protection in the information age by several actions, like the Safer Internet Programme, that Commission put forward in December 2008.

Questions to be tackled include: How should personal data be protected in a globalised world with increased mobility and in the wake of modern communication and information technologies and new policies? Which data is accessed and exchanged by public authorities and private companies? How well are current rules on international transfers of personal data working in a time of “cloud computing”? What are the expectations of individuals and business and society as a whole?

Among the speakers will be the Vice-president of the European Commission in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security, Mr Jacques
Barrot.