Privacy and Data Protection Issues

This chapter focuses on privacy and data protection policy considerations in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) that affect and are affected by technological and market developments in the European Union and the United States relating to 5th Generation networks, Big Data, and Internet of Things/cyber‐physical systems. It explores how EU–US collaboration in information and communications technology can best be served, taking into account EU–US differences in approach towards privacy and data protection, respecting the law and citizens’ expectations and preserving the widest possible scope for innovation and deployment. The chapter discusses the origin and specific aspects of applicable legislation in the European Union and the United States. Technology impacts go two ways: legislative frameworks influence which technologies are developed and how they are implemented, while technology developments, at times disruptively, can either support or challenge legislation and/or legislative frameworks.