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German MEP Jan Philipp Albrecht. Wikipedia

Could the EU set the standard for digital rights worldwide?

After passing new legislation concerning data retention and net neutrality, the next five years will see the EU become a major influence in how digital laws and regulations are shaped.

DIGITAL RIGHTS HAS been at a crossroads for a while now. Issues on data retention, privacy, net neutrality and security have been major issues over the last few years, and it’s only now that some organisations are beginning to react to it.

The US’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposals of net neutrality has been met with criticism after it proposed internet service providers could give preferential treatment to traffic from certain sites, while Brazil recently passed legislation which will allow open access to the web and ensures protection of internet privacy.

Yet it’s the European Union which has been the most proactive in tackling this problem. As well as recently passing legislation which treats all internet traffic equally across each member state, it also passed the General Data Protection Regulation reform, which will change how consumer data is stored, as well as how data breaches are reported.

It’s the first step towards solving what has become a complex and ever-changing topic, and while it’s by no means perfect, it’s something that German MEP Jan Philipp Albrecht, who has been at the forefront of issues involving data protection and digital economy in Europe, believes is crucial.

While he feels the EU is late in passing such regulation, he says it can have a major influence on the international community through leading by example.

I really think the next five years will be decisive. The question [is] who will play the leading role in setting the standard for the digital market, that will be the upcoming five years, and I think we have a good chance, as Europeans, to set a standard.

The rate of change in both the web and in digital technology has increased significantly with smart objects like fitness trackers and wearable technology beginning to emerge. 

Keeping up with an industry that is heading in multiple directions is a tough task, and putting forward regulation that addresses what’s happening now as well as what’s coming up in the future is even more so.

The General Data Protection Regulation alone hasn’t been without its critics and it’s likely that future legislation will see a similar reception, but Albrecht doesn’t feel this is a bad thing. Instead, he says it’s something that we should embrace since we are all learning.

We need to realise it’s not possible to find the perfect rule for the future and for everything, but it’s possible to find better rules for the current situation.Because technology is evolving so quickly, it’s not possible to already oversee everything that’s upcoming, but it’s possible to adapt to the new realities and to find principles and standards which might be able to adapt to new technologies.

For data protection and net neutrality in the EU, the next two years will be important as these new regulations are agreed upon and enforced.

For Albrecht, the focus should be on establishing common European rules – which clearly state what rights and responsibilities each person and organisation has – as well as cooperation and better exchange and debates at a European level.

If the EU manages to reach this stage, Albrecht says it will put Europe “quite a way ahead and [we] have a win win situation because we have legal certainty and trust.”

Jan Philipp Albrecht gave at a talk on EU Data Protection Reform at the Institute of International and European Affairs organised by the Green Party on Thursday. An audio recording of the talk can be listened to here.

Read: EP votes in favour of net neutrality laws and to end roaming charges >

Read: Ireland a contender for 2020 European Capital of Culture >

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11 Comments
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    Mute Brian Heffernan
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:23 AM

    I was listening to Radio 1 yesterday morning and you’d think Mother Teresa had just passed away.

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    Mute John Joseph McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:40 AM

    Lol.
    Instead of Al Capone.?

    64
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    Mute Dingleberrycity
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    Jan 16th 2016, 7:43 AM

    The characters are all dying off….

    81
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    Mute John Joseph McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:39 AM

    “IT’S UNLIKELY ANY other former government press secretaries will be mourned as publicly as PJ Mara has been over the last 24 hours, but then he was much more than that.”
    If that statement is true what does it say about our society.?
    The only thing most good and decent people will remember P.J for is the famous press conference where he tried to gag Vincent Browne,when he insisted on asking questions about the source of wealth of leaders of the Soldiers of Destiny:
    https://youtu.be/F6tQN6H_tVY

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    Mute John Joseph McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:42 AM

    It’s off the Wall.! all this mourning for these so called “characters”..

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    Mute Maggie
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    Jan 16th 2016, 11:25 AM

    Don’t worry Bertie is here to stay unfortunately

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Jan 17th 2016, 1:42 AM

    Bertie was on tv yesterday talkin bout PJ. Bertie seemed much reder in tge face & especially his honger. Wonder if Cowen & homself are boozing buddies.

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    Mute Colin Forbes
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:10 AM

    Characters?! More like chancers!

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    Mute John Joseph McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:48 AM

    I would use stronger terms than chancers, but one should not speak ill of the dead-nor of all the suicides which have occurred under the reign of Fianna Fail not to mention the long long waiting lists for housing; or hospital procedures today, for those who cannot afford private health insurance.
    I have no doubt that PJ’s family are very well provided for..

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    Mute William Kelly
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:51 AM

    No need to speak ill of the dead. Their record of “joint enterprise” in the corruption of our politics, & carpet bagger stroking of the economy,TACA, tents, brown envelopes, etc. will never be erased. Mara may well have been the clean face of the regime, but he loyally defended the indefensible.

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    Mute Prince of Burren
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    Jan 16th 2016, 9:19 AM

    Showtime as the article refers to. These guys think they are playing a game when it comes to election have they ever wondered the trail of destruction they have left our country in for our children and grandchildren and many more generations to come, refraining from making comments on Mr. Mara rip

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    Mute Mark Dunne
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:09 AM

    Scrap Saturday will never be the same again :(

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    Mute Joe Nah
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    Jan 16th 2016, 10:18 AM

    ‘Political strategist – genius – shaper of the political landscape etc, etc,…..’

    So we have ‘Mara’ to thank for the stinking political culture ordinary citizens have had to endure for the last thirty years?

    Thanks a bunch – no doubt Dunphy will be tearing up on the Marian Finnucane show at some stage this week-end.

    Once again the political and media cosies are disappearing up their own asses – all pals together at the end of the day…..

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    Mute James Kelly
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    Jan 16th 2016, 9:25 AM

    It would be nice to observe PJ Mara as a throwback to another era but he is not. His style, his tactics, his nudge nudge wink wink persona is still very much alive in the mainstream political parties where honest open transparent debate is to be closed down , scrutiny of waiting lists etc etc is not to be encouraged far less dealing with the myocardial of causes including of course self interest mainly in the medical and insurance sectors. Oh no, KENNY and his ilk need people like Mara as they are simply not up to the job themselves no matter how much native cunning and strokes they think they have in the locker room.
    RIP Mr Mara, you’re legacy is safe

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    Mute Donal O Neil
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    Jan 16th 2016, 3:13 PM

    They are cunning linguists

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    Mute Owen McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 9:03 AM

    Much ado about very little – very uninspiring – like the current group of morons I suppose.

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    Mute Pat Redmond
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    Jan 16th 2016, 10:38 AM

    Didn’t Fionnuala O’Kelly, aka Enda Kenny’s, wife, work for years with Meara and learnt from the master. Spot the similarities in strategy?

    Happy, clappy, photocalls : whatever you do say nothing much and keep smiling; hang out at international leader photo calls; stay out of controversies, leave the minister to bat, then let Enda sail in for victory when the government has to cave in; stay on message with rehearsed sound bites, no matter what’s put to you; give party opponents a busy portfolio but shaft them when there’s too much heat and it isn’t going away. At election time, promise taxpayer’s money to the loudest pressure group or key voter demographic at election time. And the leadership heave against Enda was handled with classic Haughey manoeuvres. Meara always acted the joker well. Mrs K stays in the shadows.

    FF PR is alive and well, just getting better and better at FG. Plus ca change. High five!

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Jan 17th 2016, 1:44 AM

    Mrs Kenny was Charlies Secretary.

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    Mute John Joseph McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 10:55 AM

    And RTE this week carried the press release/threats from Irish Water that the citizens who have boycotted the charges will be hounded through the courts and judgements lodged against their properties.etc.
    How dare this gang in power continue to threaten half the nation because they think they have bought the other half with borrowed money and taxes.!
    RTE carried the “propaganda” that more than half their customers had paid.
    However as one third of their registered customers have private wells and a private supply; when this group are removed from the statistics/lies of Irish Water, then I believe that we will find out the real truth some day-that far less than 50% of the people who are being threatened have paid-or will pay.
    I hope the long grass will reveal an enormous number of angry people in the coming election.!

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Jan 17th 2016, 1:47 AM

    I met PJ in my mid teens in the kate 70s – He seemed to be a nice man, a character definately & was interested in the views of young people. A great operator without doubt – having to deal with contraversaries one after the other.

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