Friday, 10 January 2014

EU unable to find data protection tsar to fill key role

European Data Protection supervisor Peter Hustinx
The European Commission (EC) appears unable to find anyone qualified enough to take on the role of European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) as the current data tsar is set to step down.
Peter Hustinx (pictured) has held the role for five years, which means – as agreed by the European Parliament when setting up the position – he must step down. The role will end on 16 January and a replacement for Hustinx has not yet been found.
Hustinx – whose role is to oversee personal data and privacy issues within the EU, and particularly the rights of citizens – has now written to several of the top European chiefs expressing his concern at this state of affairs.
“At this stage, it is highly unlikely that the appointment of a new supervisor and assistant supervisor will take place either before or shortly after this date. This opens the perspective of a period of uncertainty as to when the new team of supervisors will be appointed," he said.
“This uncertainty and the possibly long delays that may be involved, as well as their different consequences, are likely to harm the effectiveness and the authority of the EDPS over the coming months.”
He also noted that the issue is of particular concern given the ongoing debates around new European data protection policies and urged the situation to be resolved as quickly as possible.

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