In this week’s Privacy Tracker roundup, read about India’s Human DNA Profiling Bill, Pakistan shutting down communications via Blackberry’s secure server and the UK investigating the expense and impact of the Freedom of Information Act. Belgium’s telecommunications regulator has begun a public consultation on the latest proposed data retention legislation, and after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourová said she is aiming to end Safe Harbor discussions in the coming weeks. In the U.S., the Email Privacy Act is in a position to bypass debate and move straight to approval, but CISA may have to wait until after the recess for a vote.

LATEST NEWS

EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourová said she is aiming for a finalization of Safe Harbor discussions in the coming weeks after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker last week, Lexology reports.

Centre for Internet and Society Executive Director Sunil Abraham discusses India’s Human DNA Profiling Bill and the potential for misuse and invasion of privacy with Business Standard.

ICYMI

The European Data Protection Supervisor released its opinion alongside redlined drafts of the General Data Protection Regulation, and IAPP Publications Director Sam Pfeifle analyzes the recommendations for Privacy Tracker.

U.S.

The White House agreed with petitioners that "ECPA is outdated, and it should be reformed," adding that while it won't "endorse a single ECPA-reform bill at this time," it is "encouraged by the strong bipartisan support for updating this legislation."

ASIA-PACIFIC

Long-time barrister Stephen Wong Kai-yi has been appointed as Hong Kong's next privacy commissioner, South China Morning Post reports. 

CANADA

The IAPP now has a web conference recording available that looks at Bill S-4, The Digital Privacy Act, its key changes and their potential impacts for all organizations handling personal information about Canadians. Hear Alex Cameron of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin and Peggy Byrne of CIBC discuss the new rules.

EU

France's Constitutional Council upheld a controversial surveillance law that allows intelligence agencies to gather metadata with only approval from "an independent body created to oversee surveillance activities," The Wall Street Journal reports.

The UK Supreme Court has agreed to hear Google's appeal of Google v. Vidal-Hall, IAPP European correspondent Jennifer Baker reports for The Privacy Advisor.