Internet Newsletter for Lawyers |
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There is a mass of data protection information on the Internet. It is easy to start following interesting links and find oneself in fascinating but time-consuming sites increasingly marginal to the matter at hand. The aim of this report is to help you find the information you need.
However, as budgets are finite, before spending time and money on your search for information, it would be wise to give sufficient and proportionate attention to how you are going to apply it to the processing of personal data in your/your client's organisation, by:
It is best to start the search with a site that is closest to the subject you are researching. In those countries with Data Protection Authorities, you can easily start with their websites, more than 20 of which are conveniently linked from our own http://www.privacylaws.com website. Remember that in some countries, such as Germany and Canada, there is relevant information for the private sector on the websites of the Land (state) and provincial data protection authorities respectively.
Many other organisations are also linked from our site including the European Commission and the OECD. The former has substantial documents covering website privacy, a model contract for international data transfers and the US Safe Harbor Agreement. The latter has a wizard which helps you build a privacy law compliant site.
For those who do not relish the prospect of drowning in information, there are several newsletters specialising in privacy issues, described later in this article. It is their mission to survey this mass of information, to provide subscribers with the most important trends and to explain the impact of regulatory decisions and court judgements.
Information Commissioner's Office at http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, now renamed the Information Commissioner, continues to enforce the Data Protection Act 1998, and is now also responsible for enforcing the Freedom of Information Act.
This should be the first port of call when seeking to obtain guidance about UK data protection matters. It contains information about the Commissioner, data protection news and events, training and education, press releases and media briefings. It also includes the Commissioner's annual reports, past and present and a FAQ section.
The Freedom of Information Unit, once under the auspices of the Home Office, is now administered by the Constitutional and Community Policy Directorate of the Lord Chancellor's Department. At present, its information is still available by clicking the "Constitutional and Community Issues" link on the general Home Office site. The work of the Unit includes:
Some areas of this site describe work now transferred to other departments and provide onward links to them.
Both our own International and UK Newsletters appear five times a year in both paper and PDF formats with occasional e-mail updates. Our site at http://www.privacylaws.com contains an accessible comprehensive country, subject and company index from 1987 to the latest issues. Both paper and PDF versions may be ordered online.
The Privacy Laws & Business International Newsletter has provided, since 1987, a comprehensive information service on data protection and privacy issues and news from over 50 countries. Subscribers, who include over 60% of the Financial Times Top 50 UK companies and half of the Fortune Top 20 global corporations, benefit from joining a unique international network of companies, public sector organisations and Data Protection Authorities (DPA's). The newsletter features corporate stories on how organisations tackle a range of privacy compliance issues, usually with a web link for further information. Annual features include a DPA Directory and a 50 country roundup.
The Privacy Laws & Business UK Newsletter, launched last year, offers a similar service. It also covers the Freedom of Information Act and related aspects of other laws.
Prices: International newsletter (£305); UK newsletter (£220); Both (£475).
Aimed specifically at lawyers, Privacy & Data Protection journal is an excellent source of articles and up to date news items on data protection law and practice. The journal covers developments in data protection, human rights, telecommunications and privacy regulations and freedom of information. Edited by Peter Carey, author of "Data Protection in the UK", Privacy & Data Protection is published in 8 editions per year at an annual cost of £189.
All of the articles are written by data protection experts including lawyers from Berwin Leighton Paisner, Bird & Bird, Charles Russell and Linklaters & Alliance. There is a regular feature called "The Ultimate Guide to the Data Protection Act", which also appears on the journal's website at http://www.privacydataprotection.co.uk. A free sample of the journal is available by completing a form on the site or by emailing sample@privacydataprotection.co.uk.
This newsletter is produced and published by Masons, an international law firm and leading data protection practice. DPPP regularly covers UK news (current events, Parliamentary) and gives detailed coverage of privacy developments in Europe and the USA, including OECD, G7 and the UN. Each issue contains an extended exploration of a current topic in depth. In the August 2001 issue, there is detailed examination of the application of the UK Data Protection Act to data processing on the internet, which considers jurisdictional issues and formulation of a website privacy policy, and offers a form of communications policy addressed to employees.
The newsletter also offers case-law analysis; Soapbox (a guest columnist sounding off on a controversial topic); Press Gang (media reportage of DP matters); an Information Exchange (user groups exchange information, gossip, job details) and an agony/advice column.
DPPP is issued quarterly to subscribers, in a printed version (£170 p.a. - no VAT) and also available by a multi-copy site licence (£300 + VAT pa - includes printed version). DPPP can be free to those attending data protection courses run by Masons. Further details can be obtained from Karen Pennant, at Masons, or by email to data.protection@masons.com.
This giant law firm offers NextLaw, probably the most comprehensive and most expensive web based data protection law service sourced from its offices in 21 countries. An ideal modular service for multinational companies with big budgets and with an appetite for detailed information from a single source.
OUT-LAW.COM is the e-commerce and new media arm of Masons, an international legal practice with a long-standing interest in new media, IT and the Internet. You can choose to subscribe by e-mail to 'the daily juice', a free weekly news round up. The site also includes a news archive with a search function to find information on topics relating to data protection and articles from the UK and abroad.
Berwin Leighton Paisner is a major London law firm advising clients in all aspects of data protection, particularly those operating in a number of jurisdictions and those involved in e-commerce. Several of the UK's leading websites feature privacy policies drafted by its data protection team. In 2000, the firm launched Complytoday, a modular, on-line data protection compliance service, tailored to the needs of e-businesses. Complytoday can be accessed at www.complytoday.com.
This newsletter includes condensed articles on internet/online privacy issues with a links to the complete news stories. It is published weekdays by The Bureau of National Affairs, Washington, by Michael Geist, a law professor at the University of Ottawa Law School and Director of E-commerce Law at the Toronto law firm of Goodmans LLP. To receive a free copy of BNA's Internet Law News, visit http://ecommercecenter.bna.com.
This was founded in 1974 by Robert Ellis Smith who publishes it monthly reporting on US legislation, legal trends, new technology and public attitudes affecting the confidentiality of personal information. It takes a consumer perspective and reports on privacy challenges and disasters where companies and public bodies have infringed individuals' privacy. It makes compelling reading and reminds us all of the need for privacy regulation.
Privacy & American Business has developed its paper newsletter into an electronic version launched in August 2001. This newsletter, the hub of a comprehensive privacy service for corporations, closely monitors developments at both federal and state levels. It reports on litigation, encourages the establishment of Chief Privacy Officers, and has a special interest in privacy in Japan.
EPIC is a public interest research centre in Washington DC, established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties and to protect privacy. EPIC has relationships with global organisations with a similar focus.
The site has its own search engine as well as news articles, with a primarily US focus. The newsletter, Epic Alert, is free and includes one or two messages per week. A useful feature of the site is the Online Guide to Privacy Resources, which includes privacy sites, newsletters, conferences, and organisations on and off the net.
Finally, there is still a role for other sources of information, such as books, encyclopaedias, conferences and boutique law firms, such as Hamiltons, Singletons, or Kemp, and, of course, specialist privacy consultants.
Stewart Dresner, Chief Executive and Sandra Kelman, Consultant, Privacy Laws & Business, 020 8423 1300, stewart@privacylaws.com, sandra@privacylaws.com, http://www.privacylaws.com. Stewart founded Privacy Laws & Business in 1987 which is now the leading independent source of information and advice on privacy laws in 50 countries.
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