Europe to issue tough new data-protection rules soon

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/22/us-eu-data-idUSTRE80L0Q820120122

 

European Commission proposals on the new data-protection rules.
Fact sheets page link.
Fact sheet: Why do we need data protection reform? PDF link
Fact sheet: Strengthening citizen's rights PDF link.

In short, under the new law proposals, companies will be obliged to inform users when private information has been lost or stolen.
Private information has to be offered in 'a simple format' for 'easy transferability' in order to increase competition.
Unified rules will be made that will apply to all European Union countries, lowering the costs for companies to adhere to the current different privacy laws.
Users will have a right 'to be forgotten'. When f.i. removing a wall post or photograph from your Facebook account, such information will also have to be removed from the company database.
Uploaded files to a personal profile like private pictures or private movie samples, remain property of the user and can never be property of the website regardless of any (previously agreed to) TOS.

 

Europe proposes a "right to be forgotten".

-- Tom

 

That is going to work with all the data stored in the USA and companies located in the USA.

So, you provide a company with your real life ID and ask them to remove their data ?

This is not going to stop Google.
Mostly window dressing by the European Commision.

 

"Resistance is futile."

 

Said company then simply just pulls the url links and claims its down. (looking at you facebook) A test account I did for facebook around 2007 is still there after 3 years. I actually went through the deletion process when it was allowed. The profile is still visible via direct links. Obviously logging in has been disabled and it doesnt appear in searches though the fake info and images are still present in the database.