As the exchange of information across the globe grows and becomes faster and faster, issues related to data protection affect all citizens in the most varied areas of their life, including  their cross-border dimension. Working, dealing with public authorities, buying goods or services, travelling or surfing the internet, are activities which create an ever growing information flow. By celebrating the Data Protection Day on 28 January, the Council of Europe and the European Commission are joining forces to promote the fundamental right to data protection.

Issues of privacy and data protection have not been far from the headlines in recent years. Technology has been advancing at an exponential rate, bringing dramatic changes in the way that personal data are used to provide goods and services. This applies especially to the online environment, from banking and travel to social networking. The sharing of personal data is also part of ensuring a secure and safe society.

Within this context, the annual Data Protection Day aims to give people the chance to understand what personal data is collected and processed about them and why, and what their rights are with respect to this processing. 28 January was actually chosen to mark Data Protection Day because it celebrates the anniversary of Convention 108 of the Council of Europe, for whose revision the Council of Europe is launching a consultation in order to modernise it and continue to raise data protection standards not only in Europe, but around the world.

By celebrating the Data Protection Day 2011, the European Commission aims to underline the importance of effective data protection for European democracies as it underpins other fundamental rights and freedoms. Furthermore, as highlighted by Commissioner Viviane Reding, it is vital to reach the balance between privacy concerns and the free flow of information, which also helps create economic opportunities.

A new regulation for data protection by 2011

Achieving this balance is one of the key objectives that the European Commission seeks with the revision of the rules applying to data protection. For that purpose, the Commission set out on 4 November 2010 a strategy to strengthen EU data protection rules. The strategy aims to protect individuals' data in all policy areas, including law enforcement, while reducing red tape for business and guaranteeing the free circulation of data within the EU.

In order to determine the best way to reach this balance, the Commission has undergone a public consultation which run until 15 January, whose results will be used together with the policy review to revise the EU’s 1995 Data Protection Directive.