Updating ePrivacy: Where Do We Go From Here?

Moderator: Peter Craddock, Partner, Keller and Heckmann
Sachiko Scheuing, CIPP/E, Chairwoman, FEDMA; European Privacy and AI Governance Officer, Acxiom
Markus Sullivan, CIPP/E, CIPP/US, CIPM, FIP, Corporate Data Protection Manager, GLS
Thomas van der Valk, Privacy Policy Manager EMEA, Meta

The ePrivacy Directive was originally enacted in 2002, and has been amended to try to keep pace with digital advancements, focusing on electronic communications. In the meantime, the GDPR was enacted — among others — to update the data protection framework for the digital economy. This year, after eight years of discussions, the European Commission has proposed the withdrawal of the ePrivacy Regulation, intended to replace the ePD. 

With Mario Draghi’s call for the EU to simplify rules and to start lowering the stock of regulation, what is the right path forward for ePrivacy? What are the opportunities for simplification and reducing rules, while preserving the fundamental right to privacy? How to organise effective, accountable and coherent governance and enforcement of the ePrivacy rules?

What you will learn:

• A problem statement with respect to the current ePrivacy framework and its impact on economy, technology and businesses.
• Insights into how the ePrivacy rules can be updated across its main components: the use of cookies and online identifiers, confidentiality of communication and direct marketing. 
• Concrete avenues for how the ePrivacy rules could be simplified, which legislative instruments could be used for that, and now to create effective governance and enforcement.

Sponsored by: Meta