Call for Evidence on the European Commission's data protection proposals and Impact Assessment

Closed 6 Mar 2012

Opened 7 Feb 2012

Contact

Ollie Simpson

Domestic Data Protection Policy

020 3334 4566

informationrights@justice.gsi.gov.uk

Results updated 23 Nov 2012

There were 143 responses to the Call for Evidence, received from across the public, private and third sectors, consumer groups and members of the public.

Rights groups and members of the general public generally welcomed the strengthening of individuals' rights and greater transparency in the processing of personal data.

However, businesses and some public sector organisations expressed their concern about the possible additional burdens and unintended consequences stemming from the proposed Regulation.

The Commission’s Impact Assessment estimates that the data protection proposals would bring an administrative saving to the EU, totalling €2.3 billion each year. As the analysis published in the UK's Impact Assessment shows, the Government disagrees with this assessment and believes that the burdens the proposed Regulation would impose far outweigh the net benefit estimated by the Commission

Files:

Overview

The Government is seeking evidence on new legislative proposals for data protection which were published by the European Commission on 25 January 2012.

Why your views matter

The proposals consist of a draft Regulation setting out a general EU framework for data protection and a draft Directive on protecting personal data processed for the purposes of prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of criminal offences and related judicial activities. 

Data controllers, rights groups, information policy experts and other interested parties are invited to provide information about the likely impact of the Commission’s proposals. This will assist the Government in its forthcoming negotiations for an effective EU data protection legislative framework.

Please note that this is not a formal consultation, but an evidence gathering exercise.

Audiences

  • Businesses
  • Citizens
  • Voluntary organisations
  • Local authorities
  • Charities

Interests

  • European Union
  • Courts
  • Public Bodies