Europol celebrates the 10th European Data Protection Day

Today, 28 January 2016, marks the 10th European Data Protection Day. This day celebrates the anniversary of the Council of Europe Convention 108 on the protection of personal information, the first legally binding international law in the field of data protection, and a cornerstone of data protection legislation in Europe and beyond for over 30 years.

At Europol we are proud to have one of the most robust data protection regimes in the world of law enforcement. It enables us to prevent and combat serious organised crime and terrorism in an effective manner while duly safeguarding the fundamental rights of individuals. The Data Protection Office at Europol gives advice, including on best practices, and assurance on compliance with data protection requirements. 
To celebrate the 10th European Data Protection Day, Europol has prepared two initiatives:

• The launch of the Data Protection Office (DPO) e-magazine. Europol’s aim is to serve operational business needs in the best possible way while maintaining a high standard of data protection and security. The magazine raises public awareness on how Europol processes data in its daily work and how it relates to an individual’s fundamental rights.
• In cooperation with the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), Europol is organising the conference ‘Privacy in the Digital Age of Encryption and Anonymity Online, which will be hosted at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague on 19 and 20 May 2016.

The balance between privacy and security has always been central to law enforcement operations. However, striking the right balance in cyberspace has become particularly challenging due to the ever-increasing use of encryption and online anonymity tools. The conference aims to build constructive discussions to make the Internet both an open and safe space, while reaching the right balance between freedom and security.

Europol wishes you a happy Data Protection Day!