By Sam Pfeifle
Publications Director

Thus far, we have introduced part one, part two and part three of the closing keynote at the IAPP Europe Data Protection Intensive in London, UK, which explored the future of data collection and use, notice and choice in a world that is increasingly connected and populated with devices that collect data without interfaces and without off buttons.

Today, we polish off the series with parts four and five in one grand resolution. In part four, a seated regulator finally gets to make his feelings heard. Dutch DPA Jacob Kohnstamm expresses his reservations with this focus on use, possibly at the expense of clear notice and consent at the point of collection. Even if we all agree that current methods of notice and choice aren’t working, does that mean we should abandon the investigation?

You can hear his entire rejoinder here:

Both former UK ICO Richard Thomas and Microsoft’s Peter Cullen, CIPP/US, then bring the conversation full circle. It would seem that the discussion is stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. While no one is suggesting that collection be ignored, neither does anyone have a great solution for providing meaningful notice and choice that people will actually consume and understand.

However, Thomas and Cullen argue, asking the consumer to bear the burden of policing every way that data is used seems untenable. Will regulators start to ask more of data collectors? Will we see standards for privacy notices?

The potential solutions begin to take shape:

Looking to see the entire conversation from start to finish? Check out our London Data Protection Intensive 2014 playlist here.

Read More By Sam Pfeifle:
Moving Toward Pragmatic Regulation
Increasing the Data Collector’s Responsibility
The Future of Data Collection and Use
Christopher Graham’s Brave New World of Privacy Enforcement