EU Regulations And Public Opinion Shift The Scope Of Data Governance

The European Commission is preparing an update of its Data Protection Directive, which will introduce new rights for consumers like the "right to be forgotten." This new directive is expected to be adopted in 2014, with all 27 EU members having to fully apply it in 2016 — creating a harmonized European privacy regime. However, while the regulations will be the same across Europe, consumer interest in and uptake of their new rights will vary by country, due to differences in both culture and past experiences. Companies should ensure that their investments between 2014 and 2016 prepare them not only to comply with these regulations but also to take advantage of the opportunity to address consumer concerns around data protection by extending data governance. This report discusses the impact of both the new directive and consumer sentiment on how firms should approach data governance.