Hong Kong Lawmakers Pass Legislation To Overhaul Framework Privacy Ordinance
MELBOURNE, Australia—Hong Kong’s Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Allan Chiang, has welcomed the June 27 passage of legislation that would amend Hong Kong’s privacy ordinance, highlighting tighter controls on the transfer or sale of personal data and on its use for direct marketing.
ANALYSIS: The EU Article 29 Working Party’s Guidance On Cookie Consent Exemptions
On June 7, 2012, the EU Article 29 Data Protection Working Party adopted an Opinion on “Cookie Consent Exemption” (Working Paper 194). The Working Paper is intended as guidance regarding the correct interpretation of the two exceptions to the consent requirement contained in the EU Cookie Directive.
SPECIAL REPORT: Pragmatic Solutions To Typical Privacy Challenges For EU Customers Of Cloud-Based Software Services
There are many reasons why companies decide to move certain portions of their data and software applications from on-site environments to the data centers of a software provider and to hence use the corresponding cloud services. These reasons may be connected to the advantages of getting rid of the nuisances of local data storage with the corresponding security issues, or to the benefits of the “evergreen” nature of software in the cloud, which is centrally updated and maintained.
Philippines Data Privacy Bill Advances, Would Boost Business Process Outsourcing
TAIPEI—The Philippines moved a step closer to establishing its first comprehensive data protection regime as the Philippine Senate June 6 ratified a Bicameral Conference Committee report on the Data Privacy Act, according to the state-run Philippines News Agency (PNA).
Netherlands’ Strict New Cookie Rules Take Effect
The new Dutch cookie regime came into effect June 5, 2012, one day after its publication in the Government Gazette. The new rules introduce a stricter regime for most cookies which is based on informed consent…
ANALYSIS: Data Protection Landscape May Be Changing Soon In China And Hong Kong
China: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the reporting of large data breach incidents involving the sale of personal data in China…
ANALYSIS: Hungary’s New Data Protection Authority Issues First Report, First Publicly Available Decisions: High Fines, High Legal Risks
Effective January 1, 2012, a new data protection authority was established in Hungary 1 by Act No. CXII of 2011 on information self-determination and freedom of information (“Information Act”) 2 (see analysis by the author at WDPR, November 2011, page 4). The new National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (Hungarian acronym: NAIH) already published its first report, on March 30, 2012, …
ANALYSIS: The German Government’s Proposed Changes To Its Employee Data Protection Bill
Employee data protection has been one of the most urgent topics on German political parties’ agendas for many years. One of the disputed questions was how such special protection could best be implemented. The available options were a separate act on employee privacy or an amendment of the Federal Data Protection Act (“FDPA”).
ANALYSIS: Naming And Shaming Tax Defaulters Across The European Union
The United Kingdom’s tax authority, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, acquired the power to publish details of individuals and companies that deliberately default on their taxes under provisions within the Finance Act 2009.
ANALYSIS: Subject Access Requests Under EU And UK Law: The Problems With Unstructured Data
One of the key rights for individuals under the EU Data Protection Directive is to access their personal data by making a “subject access request”. The right is important, as it allows individuals to verify the accuracy of any personal data held about them and the lawfulness of the processing of that data.