A new law expected to become effective this year will allow for the imposition of fines for data privacy violations, Radio Netherlands Worldwide reports. "People's personal data are being used by others all the time, without their realizing it in the least," said Dutch Data Protection Commissioner Jacob Kohnstamm, who is assisting the justice ministry in drafting the law. "The new, steep fines will make sure that people's privacy will be respected." Violators risk fines from 25,000 to several million euros. Kohnstamm has also announced that his office is investigating the presence of regional electronic medical records. (Editor's note: Jacob Kohnstamm will deliver a keynote address at the IAPP Europe Data Protection Congress in Paris, November 29-30.)
Full Story

Register for the IAPP Europe Data Protection Congress 2011, November 29–30, in Paris soon to take advantage of the early bird rate! See the complete program.