Is There a Right to be Forgotten?

There might be in the European Union in the near future.

Discussions concerning a new legal framework for data protection and privacy reforms are taking place in the European Parliament. Two legislative proposals under consideration include:

• 2012/0011(COD) - Personal data protection and free movement of data (General Data Protection Regulation)
• 2012/0010(COD) - Personal data protection: processing of data for the purposes of prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or execution of criminal penalties, and free movement of data

The links above are to the European Parliament’s electronic Procedure File, which includes basic information, key players, key events, technical information, and a documentation gateway.

  

For more information, see the European Parliament’s information on Data protection day: is your private life safe?

Image Source: European Parliament, Data protection day: is your private life safe?

For recent U.S. news coverage, see Kevin J. O'Brien, Silicon Valley Companies Lobbying Against Europe’s Privacy Proposals, N.Y. Times, Jan. 25, 2013.