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