Introduction to European Data Protection

Question 1

Introduction to European Data Protection

Answer 1

A. Origins and Historical Context of Data Protection Law

Rationale for data protection, human rights laws, early laws and regulations, the need for a harmonized European approach, the Treaty of Lisbon; a modernized framework

B. European Union Institutions 1
Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights, European Parliament, European
Commission, European Council, Court of Justice of the European Union

C. Legislative Framework
The Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Individuals with Regard to
the Automatic Processing of Personal Data of 1981 (the CoE Convention), the EU
Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC), The EU Directive on Privacy and Electronic
Communications (2002/58/EC) (ePrivacy Directive) – as amended, the EU Directive
on Electronic Commerce (2000/31/EC), European data retention regimes, The
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679 and related legislation