General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) , Governance & Risk Management , InCyber Forum - Europe

GDPR: Business Constraint or Opportunity?

As concerns over data privacy rise throughout Europe, the European Data Protection Board is guiding the harmonization of regulations across 27 EU member states. EDPB Chair Anu Talus shed light on the board's mission and the transformative impact of the General Data Protection Regulation since its inception in 2018.

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Talus highlighted the EDPB's role in enforcing the GDPR's provisions, ensuring consistent application and cross-border enforcement. "One of the core things that the GDPR brought was that they are easily enforceable rights for people and for what we would call data subjects," she said.

Cybersecurity professionals, however, have varied perspectives on the GDPR. While some perceive it as an opportunity to foster accountability and trust, others view it as a constraint, hindering innovation and operational efficiency. "GDPR provides a good opportunity to build a technology on a solid ground, which takes into consideration the European values," Talus said.

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at the Forum International de la Cybersécurité event in Europe, Talus also discussed:

• The intersection of artificial intelligence and data protection;
• How Europe compares to North America in the field of data protection;
• The application of GDPR for cybersecurity professionals across Europe.

Talus, elected to chair the European Data Protection Board in 2023, also serves as head of the Finnish Data Protection Authority. She previously worked for more than 10 years as a senior adviser for EU affairs at the Ministry of Justice in Finland.