Source: European Parliament
Protection of personal data and respect for private life are fundamental European rights. The European Parliament has always insisted on the need to strike a balance between enhancing security and safeguarding human rights, including data protection and privacy. New EU data protection rules strengthening citizens’ rights and simplifying rules for companies in the digital age took effect in May 2018. Research prepared for the European Parliament indicates that EU legislation related to regulating data flows contributes EUR 51.6 billion annually to GDP in the European Union. Research prepared for the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA Committee) confirms the importance of data protection in defending democracy and individual freedoms in the EU.