22.11.2023 – The Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner hosted the European Case Handling Workshop in Bern from 8 to 9 November 2023. Under the aegis of the Conference of European Data Protection Authorities, representatives from almost 40 data protection authorities exchanged views on current challenges in dealing with the latest technologies.
European Case Handling Workshop in Bern
From 8 to 9 November, the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) hosted the European Case Handling Workshop (ECHW) in Bern. The welcoming event was opened by the Commissioner, Adrian Lobsiger, on Tuesday evening, 7 November, and took place under the aegis of the Conference of European Data Protection Authorities (Spring Conference). The practical workshop focused on exchanges between various data protection authorities and brought together over 80 representatives of 37 data protection authorities from 27 European countries including Switzerland in the Swiss capital. The 13 workshops were led by various data protection authorities. The topic was outstanding issues and challenges of national and cross-border importance from European and Swiss data protection practice.
Dealing with the latest technologies
Topics discussed included the handling of digital facial detection technologies and their impact on data protection, as well as the position of various data protection authorities. As a subgroup of "facial recognition", "facial detection" does not aim to identify a person, but merely to recognize them as a human being. The participants reflected on what the definition of ‘personal data’ includes when new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are used and how case law deals with this. Deviations from case law by local data protection authorities and the challenges of applying the definition of ‘personal data’ in the context of cutting-edge technologies such as analytics and advertising tracking were also discussed.
US Cloud Act
The workshop ‘Dealing with the US Cloud Act’ looked at a highly practice-related and topical issue. The data protection challenges created by the US Cloud Act include the authorised access by US law enforcement authorities to personal data processed by US companies based in Europe. In the workshop, the various data protection authorities discussed how they deal with projects in the public sector in which such cloud applications (e.g. Microsoft 365) are used. They discussed questions and challenges that arise in connection with the application of the US Cloud Act and possible solutions.
The lively discussions and the active participation of all present resulted in a constructive exchange and provided valuable input for the daily work of the European and Swiss data protection authorities.
Last modification 11.12.2023