Main session 2: Past, Present, Future? What is Convention 108+ really? And where does it belong?

Convention 108 has a long history. For the last 43 years, its standards were widely acknowledged and followed by many countries, and institutions, influencing various legislative processes (some of the CM Recommendations developed in the 80’s are still in force for Council of Europe members States). For governments it remains the only legally binding instrument that has the potential to provide a level legal playing field at international level for all like-minded countries to define the appropriate level for the protection of private life and personal data in the digital age and how to reach to the much-desired free flow of data between participating jurisdictions. The panel will examine the topical challenges that Convention 108 faces as a global treaty and look into the most pressing priorities in relation to the future application of Convention 108+. Key questions: Why international data protection standards, exemplified by Convention 108, matter? What do they represent? And how they are used by different actors? Are international treaties bad for innovation or business? Will Convention 108+ have a role in creating a level legal playing field for cooperation on the protection of private life in the digital age and for the free flow of data between like-minded countries? Moderator: Peter Kimpian, Secretary to the Committee of the Council of Europe Privacy and Data Protection Convention Speakers: Mohamed Diop, Permanent Secretary of the Personal Data Protection Commission (CDP) (Senegal DPA) Judith Lichtenberg, Board Member, Review Committee on the Intelligence and Security Services Emmanuel Netter, Strasbourg University Erik Wennerström, Judge, European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)