The future of data protection law in Europe and beyond

• Department of Law

This event features a roundtable discussion with Professor Ignacio Cofone (University of Oxford), Professor Orla Lynskey (University College London), EUI Professor Thomas Streinz, and EUI Researcher Emmanouil Bougiakiotis.

European data protection law is in flux. On the one hand, concerns about the competitiveness of the EU have prompted the Commission to rethink its approach to regulation in the digital economy through its recent digital omnibus proposal, which focuses on 'unlocking opportunities in the use of data, as a fundamental resource in the EU economy'. On the other hand, many academics and civil society representatives argue that the proposal undercuts a data protection framework that is already inadequate. Beyond Europe, other countries are also reconsidering their data protection frameworks.

These discussions take place against a foggy background where many of the core concepts and principles of data protection law remain unclear and controversial. This round-table discussion will examine some of the thorniest questions on the future of data protection law in an interactive manner. Are data protection regimes in Europe and elsewhere fit for purpose? Do we need to revisit traditional data protection concepts? Do we need more, less, or entirely different regulation? Does data protection law suffer from inadequate rules and/or enforcement? What can and should the future of data protection law look like?