Privacy chief: EU research must consider data protection

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) wants EU research projects to take account of privacy and data protection requirements from early on, in particular when developing information and communication technologies. 

In order to contribute to the better implementation of the EU data protection legal framework, “privacy and data protection requirements need to be highlighted and applied as soon as possible in the life cycle of new technological developments,” insisted Peter Hustinx, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), presenting a policy paper setting out his role and possible contribution to EU research and technological development.

The overall role of the EDPS is to monitor EU developments which have an impact on the protection of personal data, in particular the development of ICT. His policy paper, adopted on 28 April 2008, sets out how the EDPS can contribute to guaranteeing privacy and data protection both in the preparatory phase of the overall EU research framework programme and for individual research projects.

The aim of the EDPS is “to advise the Commission and/or project developers on their efforts to use privacy and data protection-friendly RTD methodologies and of course to develop technologies and processes that will promote and reinforce the effectiveness of the EU data protection legal framework”. 

Hustinx also considers that “the principle of ‘privacy by design’ should represent an inherent part of the EU’s research activities. The EDPS’s contribution to this could be done, for example, through its:

• Participation in workshops and conferences aiming to identify future challenges for EU research policy;
• contribution to EU research advisory boards; 
• assistance in the evaluation of research project proposals, and; 
• provision of opinions on data protection matters in relation to individual research projects.

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