Greetings, from Portsmouth, New Hampshire!

The privacy community lost a champion this week with the passing of European Data Protection Supervisor Giovanni Buttarelli. IAPP Vice President and Chief Knowledge Officer Omer Tene wrote Buttarelli was “Tall in stature — he had a bigger heart and grand ambition to match. Driving a nuanced and delicate policy agenda through the halls of power from Rome to Brussels to Washington, Buttarelli never for a minute lost the constant twinkle in his eye, his irrepressible charm, gracious spirit and unique largesse." For more on Giovanni’s life, check out our coverage, our memorial page, Omer Tene’s salute and Christian D’Cunha’s tribute.

One sure sign summer is coming to an end in the Seacoast area is the start of the new school year, which begins next week. There is something exciting about new school supplies, reconnecting with classmates and striving to achieve educational standards — well, at least from the parent’s perspective.

In the privacy world, global management standards “hit the mainstream” when the International Standards Organization published the first international standard to help organizations manage information privacy. IAPP Editorial Director Jedidiah Bracy spoke with OneTrust Director of Privacy Andrew Clearwater, who said the new standard “ties risks to solutions within organizations, gives structure to accountability, promotes cross-team work between the security and privacy teams, and will help justify expenses for the privacy office." 

Summer break is also nearing the end for Congress, and while I’m sure they’re looking forward to new projects, they will also be diving into reviewing a number of privacy bills, including several bills that would give the government additional power to prevent illegal robocalls.

Just yesterday, the National Association of Attorneys General announced they are partnering with 12 telecom companies in an effort to prevent and punish illegal robocallers. Attorneys general from all 50 states and Washington wrote a letter to Congress urging them to reject the Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011 [H.R. 3035], citing concerns the bill “would preempt state laws regulating junk faxes, unsolicited text messages, Do Not Call registries, and automated calls.”

It will be interesting to see what happens once the new term is in session. Until then, enjoy the last “unofficial” days of summer.