Human rights and data: Views from a leader in the EU Parliament

The flow of data across the Atlantic continues to be at the center of economic, political, and diplomatic conversation between the United States and European Union. The U.S. recently adopted the CLOUD Act, which provides cross-border access to electronic evidence and allows international agreements governing such access. The EU is considering its negotiating position for such an agreement. Meanwhile, even as it continues implementing its new General Data Protection Regulation, the EU is considering the proposed e-Privacy Regulation on use of electronic communications, including new limits on marketing and cookie settings for browsers, as well as another proposal on access to “e-evidence” across the European Union.

On July 19, as part of a continuing series of discussions with EU parliamentary leaders on digital economy issues, Governance Studies at Brookings hosted EU Member of Parliament Sophie in ’t Veld to discuss data privacy and civil liberties. As a longtime member of the Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) and a member of the Parliament’s Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE), in ’t Veld has been at the forefront of debates about data protection as well as government access to data and sharing of data among governments. How will the EU enter into a CLOUD Act agreement with the U.S.? How will the EU’s proposed e-Evidence Regulation affect the level of protection in the EU? How might other events affect the future of transatlantic data transfers? And what emerging threats pose the greatest risk to data protection in the EU and U.S.?

After the session, speakers took audience questions.