Privacy and a New Era of Personal Computing: A View from Brussels

Posted by Brendon Lynch
Chief Privacy Officer, Microsoft

I spent last week in Brussels with privacy regulators and practitioners from around the world, many of whom were there for the IAPP European Data Protection Congress. It’s an important time for privacy globally, and I want to share a few of my insights from the week (including my keynote address to the conference and a separate event we hosted on transatlantic privacy) and how they apply to what we’re doing to advance privacy at Microsoft. 

We kicked off the week with our most recent @Microsoft Conversations on privacy. Our EMEA Director of Privacy Policy, Jean Gonié, moderated a panel discussion on developments in transatlantic data protection. The panelists included Marielle Gallo, Member of European Parliament, Rapporteur of JURI Committee on Data Protection Regulation; David Vladeck, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission; and Jerôme Déroulez, Justice Counselor, French Permanent Representation to the European Union.

With new European privacy regulation that would apply directly across all 27 EU member states under consideration, the panel had lots to discuss. One area of strong consensus was the tremendous potential the digital economy holds for companies on both sides of the pond. Accordingly, it’s important to strike the right balance between data protection with business growth through interoperability between privacy regulation in the EU, U.S. and elsewhere. The panelists also agreed that consumers should be empowered to make better privacy choices and control their own data. Do Not Track was cited as an example of how to achieve this empowerment, and our approach to DNT in Windows 8 and Internet Explorer 10 shows that we agree.

In the picture above are Jean Gonié, Director of Privacy, EMEA Policy, Microsoft; Marielle Gallo, Member of European Parliament, Rapporteur of JURI Committee on Data Protection Regulation; David Vladeck, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission; Jerôme Déroulez, Justice Counselor, French Permanent Representation to the European Union.

As the panel concluded, we announced the culmination of a series of discussions that we convened to advance a global conversation aimed at generating shared ideas and new thinking in support of alternative approaches to privacy protection. As people here in Brussels read the summary report, we heard a lot of agreement that more focus on data use, coupled with strong organizational responsibility, represents a promising path toward realizing the potential of big data while sustaining privacy. There’s much more work to do here, and we look forward to helping advance these important discussions.

On Thursday morning, I delivered an IAPP keynote address detailing how we’re moving from an era of personal computers to an era of personal computing, with significant implications for privacy and data protection. I underscored how we increasingly rely on powerful devices that connect to the cloud; more natural ways to interact with technology; and the ability to glean insights from big data. And, I explained how we’ll need to address privacy in this this exciting era of personal computing through a combination of effective self-regulation, consistent government legislation and market innovation. Take a look at our Microsoft Privacy Twitter feed for some reactions to my remarks; feel free to share your perspectives there, too.

Our customers want and expect strong privacy protection to be built into Microsoft products and services. This past week’s activities are great examples of how we engage with a broad range of privacy stakeholders around the world to help put people first.

Comments

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  in general way the big parts of data is formed by collaborative team or public diffuser tv radio and for particular the sam law is aplicat of the way in respect of law medical recherche and medical data have hight degree of protection similar of way of telephoni and fax exchange for mi parts have see many team worke whit this programme and have don't can be observe somme won for bad il anderstend your preoccupation but when you finishe  and you use this fabuluse outil for recherche for medcin and  . many greats way many people and businesseman and women go and use for positive change for my parts im passe my time to creats greats environement whit greats software for all of yongwer woman and creator can be exchange and creat another positive way maby when all people is to muche preocuped by creating somme ting butifull and great and after this don't have any more time to be preocuped by your grand secret  for my parts many professionel team taks  time to lots time and energy to resolve all security concerne for my parts noting see something don't want and not just in my computer tank for your compreantion sorry for fault of lagage is note my first langage telay tanks

• Anonymous
  December 21, 2012
  ok so your saying its ok for people to make up fake accounts in my name to get personal info such as bank accounts and much more without me knowing anything about it also my computers taking random pictures when i have minor children in my home.ok we will see about that also one child that is disabled i dont think so

• Anonymous
  January 22, 2013
  denemek ıstıyorum bu kadar reklam bu kadar tanıtım hepsı  nasıl olduğunu görerek ve tatbik ederek  yapmak ıstıyorum                               Tesekkür ederım