Privacy & Information Security Law Blog

Recently, German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke at Germany’s 10th National IT Summit, and called for EU Member States to take a pragmatic approach to the application of EU data protection laws. Chancellor Merkel warned that a restrictive interpretation of data protection laws risks undermining the development of big data projects in the EU. Ahead of the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation throughout the EU in May 2018, Merkel argued that, more than simply preventing the excesses of personal data use, data protection law should serve to enable emerging data developments. Chancellor Merkel’s comments are significant given that Germany typically has taken a hard-line approach to data protection law interpretation and enforcement, particularly with respect to data minimization requirements that can pose challenges to big data developments in the digital economy.