Legal background

Privacy laws

The following are the main legal documents or treaties that express a certain right to privacy.

Worldwide

[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)] [Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data] (1980).

In Europe

Article 8 of the [European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)], drafted by the [Council of Europe]. in 1950.

Council of Europe’s [[http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/108.htm Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data]](Convention 108, ratified in 1981).

Directive [[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:1995:281:0031:0050:EN:PDF

95/46/EC]] on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (24-10-1995).

• This directive is in the process of being [replaced by a Regulation].

Directive [[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:1998:024:0001:0008:EN:PDF

97/66/EC]] concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the telecommunications sector (15-12-1997).

• Replaced by the 'eprivacy' directive [2002/58/EC] concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications).
  • Replaced by directive [2009/136/EC].

Related or opposing laws

The following agreements and regulations are related to, or sometimes even opposed to, the above rights to privacy

• Data retention directive 2006/24/EC
• Safe Harbour Agreement (26-7-2000)
• Regulation (EU) 45/2001
• Charter Fundamental Rights 7-12-2000
• Article 3 (c) Directive 99/5/EC