Data

Data protection, privacy and new technologies

More of our everyday lives are online — both at work and home. Meanwhile, terror attacks intensify calls for more surveillance. Concerns grow over the safety of our privacy and personal data.

FRA helps lawmakers and practitioners protect your rights in a connected world.

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Highlights

Products
Handbook / Guide / Manual
Borders and information systems
Asylum, migration and borders
Access to asylum
Borders and information systems
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
5
December
2016

Guidance on how to reduce the risk of refoulement in external border management when working in or together with third countries

EU Member States are increasingly involved in border management activities on the high seas, within – or in cooperation with – third countries, and at the EU’s borders. Such activities entail risks of violating the principle of non-refoulement, the cornerstone of the international legal regime for the protection of refugees, which prohibits returning individuals to a risk of persecution. This guidance outlines specific suggestions on how to reduce the risk of refoulement in these situations – a practical tool developed with the input of experts during a meeting held in Vienna in March of 2016.
Fundamental Rights Report
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Asylum, migration and borders
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Hate crime
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
People with disabilities
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Children, youth and older people
Roma
30
May
2016

Fundamental Rights Report 2016

The European Union (EU) and its Member States introduced and pursued numerous initiatives to safeguard and strengthen
fundamental rights in 2015. Some of these efforts produced important progress; others fell short of their aims. Meanwhile,
various global developments brought new – and exacerbated existing – challenges.
Fundamental Rights Report
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
Hate crime
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
People with disabilities
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Children, youth and older people
Roma
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
30
May
2016

Fundamental Rights Report 2016 - FRA opinions

The European Union (EU) and its Member States introduced and pursued
numerous initiatives to safeguard and strengthen fundamental rights in 2015.
FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2016 summarises and analyses major
developments in the fundamental rights field, noting both progress made
and persisting obstacles. This publication presents FRA’s opinions on the
main developments in the thematic areas covered and a synopsis of the
evidence supporting these opinions. In so doing, it provides a compact but
informative overview of the main fundamental rights challenges confronting
the EU and its Member States.
Opinion
Judicial cooperation and rule of law
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems
Legal migration and integration
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Borders and information systems
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Defendants’ rights
Security
21
December
2015

FRA Opinion on the exchange of information on third-country nationals under a possible system to complement the European Criminal Records Information System

The proposal to establish a possible legislative instrument supplementing the existing European Criminal Records Information System with information on third-country nationals convicted in the EU raises a number of fundamental rights issues.
Report / Paper / Summary
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Data protection
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Security
18
November
2015

Surveillance by intelligence services - Volume I: Member States’ legal frameworks

This report, drafted in response to the European Parliament’s call for thorough research on fundamental rights protection in the context of surveillance, maps and analyses the legal frameworks on surveillance in place in EU Member States.
Report / Paper / Summary
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Security
18
November
2015

Surveillance by intelligence services: fundamental rights safeguards and remedies in the EU - Summary

In April 2014, the European Parliament requested the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) “to undertake in–depth research on the protection of fundamental rights in the context
of surveillance”. This summary presents FRA’s main research findings, which are published in full in the report entitled Surveillance by intelligence services: fundamental rights safeguards and remedies in the EU – Mapping Member States’ legal frameworks.
Handbook / Guide / Manual
Access to asylum
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems
Irregular migration, return and immigration detention
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Borders and information systems
22
October
2015

Fundamental rights implications of the obligation to provide fingerprints for Eurodac

Processing biometric data for immigration, asylum and border management purposes has become common. This focus paper looks at measures authorities can take to enforce the obligation of newly arrived asylum seekers and migrants in an irregular situation to provide fingerprints for inclusion in Eurodac.
Fundamental Rights Report
Asylum, migration and borders
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
Hate crime
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
People with disabilities
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Children, youth and older people
Roma
25
June
2015

Fundamental rights: challenges and achievements in 2014 - Annual report

European Union (EU) Member States and institutions introduced a number of legal and policy measures in 2014 to safeguard fundamental rights in the EU. Notwithstanding these efforts, a great deal remains to be done, and it can be seen that the situation in some areas is alarming: the number of migrants rescued or apprehended at sea as they were trying to reach Europe’s borders quadrupled over 2013; more than a quarter of children in the EU are at risk of poverty or social exclusion; and an increasing number of political parties use xenophobic and anti-immigrant rhetoric in their campaigns, potentially increasing some people’s vulnerability to becoming victims of crime or hate crime.
Page
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

Information society, privacy and data protection

EU internal security concerns, including the threat of terrorist attacks, have affected the data protection debate, while mass surveillance and government secrecy have continued to be widely discussed.
Handbook / Guide / Manual
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Borders and information systems
Data protection
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Security
26
January
2015

Fundamental rights considerations for law enforcement when processing Passenger Name Record data

FRA was requested by the European Commission (EC) in January 2014 to provide practical guidance on the processing of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data for law enforcement purposes, in light of efforts by Member States to establish national PNR systems. As a result, in informal consultation with EC services and the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) and building on opinions FRA, the EDPS and the Article 29 Working Party on PNR, FRA presented twelve fundamental rights considerations to EU Member States experts at technical level.
Fundamental Rights Report
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
Hate crime
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
People with disabilities
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Children, youth and older people
Roma
9
July
2014

Fundamental rights: key legal and policy developments in 2013. Highlights 2013

The EU and its Member States took a variety of important steps in 2013 to protect and promote fundamental rights by
assuming
new international commitments, revamping legislation and pursuing innovative policies on the ground. Yet, fundamental
rights violations seized the spotlight with distressing frequency: would‑be migrants drowning off the EU’s coast,
unprecedented mass surveillance, racist and extremist‑motivated murders, child poverty and Roma deprivation.
Fundamental Rights Report
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Children, youth and older people
People with disabilities
Hate crime
Roma
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
6
June
2014

Fundamental rights: challenges and achievements in 2013 - Annual report 2013

This year’s FRA annual report looks at fundamental rights-related developments in asylum, immigration and integration; border control and visa policy; information society, respect for private life and data protection; the rights of the child and the protection of children; equality and non-discrimination; racism, xenophobia and related intolerance; access to justice and judicial cooperation; rights of crime victims; EU Member States and international obligations.
In brief / Factsheet
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Support for human rights systems and defenders
5
March
2014

Violence against women: an EU‑wide survey

This factsheet presents some examples of survey findings, which are placed alongside general considerations as possible ‘ways forward’ for responding to violence against women.
Report / Paper / Summary
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Data protection
27
January
2014

Access to data protection remedies in EU Member States – Summary

This summary presents the FRA’s main research conclusions, which are published in full in Access to data protection remedies in EU Member States.
Report / Paper / Summary
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Data protection
27
January
2014

Access to data protection remedies in EU Member States

Technological advances make it ever more important to safeguard the right to personal data, which is enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Data protection violations arise principally from internet‑based activities, direct marketing and video surveillance, perpetrated by, for example, government bodies or financial and health institutions, research by the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) shows.
Handbook / Guide / Manual
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
5
June
2014

Handbook on European data protection law - 2014 edition

This handbook is designed to familiarise legal practitioners who are not specialised in the field of data protection with this area of law. It provides an overview of the EU’s and the CoE’s applicable legal frameworks.
Handbook / Guide / Manual
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Unlawful profiling
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Defendants’ rights
3
December
2013

Fundamental rights-based police training – A manual for police trainers

Police officers who ensure that people are able to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms earn the respect and trust of the public. With this in mind, this manual sets out to foster such human rights-based police work by integrating human rights training into the heart of police training, in line with the European Union’s goals in the field of justice and home affairs.
Report / Paper / Summary
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Children, youth and older people
People with disabilities
Roma
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
18
June
2013

Fundamental rights: key legal and policy developments in 2012

This year’s summary of the FRA Annual report – Highlights 2012 – puts the spotlight on key legal and policy developments in the field of fundamental rights in 2012.
Fundamental Rights Report
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Children, youth and older people
People with disabilities
Roma
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
18
June
2013

Fundamental rights: challenges and achievements in 2012

Against a backdrop of rising unemployment and increased deprivation, this FRA Annual report closely examines the situation of those, such as children, who are vulnerable to budget cuts, impacting important fields such as education, healthcare and social services. It looks at the discrimination that Roma continue to face and the mainstreaming of elements of extremist ideology in political and public discourse. It considers the impact the crises have had on the basic principle of the rule of law, as well as stepped up EU Member State efforts to ensure trust in justice systems.
In brief / Factsheet
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
9
October
2012

Data protection reform package FRA opinion – October 2012

Data protection is an issue that affects a number of fundamental rights contained in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. This factsheet discusses some of the key points mentioned in the opinion.
News Item
Data protection
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

Legal data protection now also in Croatian

The 2018 edition of the Handbook on European data protection law is now also available online in Croatian.
News Item
Data protection
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Unlawful profiling

FRA discusses privacy, data protection and COVID-19 with cities

On 26 May, FRA presented key fundamental rights considerations emerging from the second edition of its COVID-19 Bulletin during a webinar on privacy and using technology to control the pandemic.
COVID-19 tracing on a mobile phone
Press Release
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Asylum, migration and borders
Access to asylum
Data protection
Children, youth and older people
People with disabilities
Racial and ethnic origin
Roma
Victims’ rights

Tech answers to COVID-19 should also safeguard fundamental rights

Many governments are looking to technology to help monitor and track the spread of COVID-19, as a new Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) report shows. Governments’ using technology to protect public health and overcome the pandemic need to respect everyone’s fundamental rights.
News Item
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

Data governance and privacy in the fight against COVID-19

FRA took part in an online workshop on addressing data governance and privacy challenges in the fight against COVID-19.
Different COvid-19 measures like handwashing, stay at home, distancing
Press Release
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

Protect human rights and public health in fighting COVID-19

Government measures to combat COVID-19 have profound implications for everybody’s fundamental rights, including the right to life and to health, as mapped by a new Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) report. Government responses to stop the virus particularly affect the rights of already vulnerable or at-risk people, such as the elderly, children, people with disabilities, Roma or refugees. Respecting human rights and protecting public health is in everyone’s best interest – they have to go hand-in-hand.
News Item
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Artificial intelligence and big data

Technology marches on – Is data protection standing still?

The pace of change is relentless. Technological advances continue to have an ever-greater impact on our daily lives. European Data Protection Day on 28 January is a chance to remember the growing need for robust personal data safeguards to ensure we all benefit from greater digitalisation.
Our work on AI and big data
Download facial recognition report
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Support for human rights systems and defenders

Looking ahead to 2020

This year FRA looks forward to a new decade for fundamental human rights across Europe, as the new European Parliament and Commission hit the ground running with a raft of new strategies promoting and protecting rights.
Explore the 2020 scheduled products
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

Towards humane and effective migration

“Migration will not go away – it will stay with us,” says European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. On International Migrants Day on 18 December, FRA joins the Commission in its call to find solutions that are humane and effective.
News Item
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

New language versions of data protection handbook

The handbook on European data protection law is designed to familiarise legal practitioners not specialised in data protection with this emerging area of the law.
News Item
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Artificial intelligence and big data

Facial recognition technology discussed at the DAPIX working group

FRA presented its paper on facial recognition technology to the Council Working Party on information exchange and data protection (DAPIX) on 5 December in Brussels.
News Item
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

Additional language versions of preventing unlawful profiling guide out now

The guide of preventing unlawful profiling today and in the future explains what profiling is, the legal frameworks that regulate it, and why conducting profiling lawfully is both necessary to comply with fundamental rights and crucial for effective policing and border management.
News Item
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

Data protection handbook now also in Hungarian

The handbook on European data protection law is designed to familiarise legal practitioners not specialised in data protection with this emerging area of the law.
News Item
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

FRA joins Council of Europe cybercrime conference

FRA joined the Council of Europe’s Octopus Conference on cybercrime in Strasbourg from 10 to 22 November.
News Item
Artificial intelligence and big data
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

Facial recognition technology: fundamental rights considerations in law enforcement

Private companies and public authorities worldwide increasingly use facial recognition technology. Several EU Member States are now considering, testing or planning to use it for law enforcement purposes as well. While this technology potentially supports fighting terrorism and solving crimes, it also affects people’s fundamental rights. A new Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) paper looks at the fundamental rights implications of relying on live facial recognition technology, focusing on its use for law enforcement and border management purposes.
News Item
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

EU agencies discuss joining forces on AI implementation

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) invited several EU agencies to discuss results of their project on possible uses of artificial intelligence by EU agencies.
Press Release
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Children, youth and older people
Roma
People with disabilities
Hate crime
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
Asylum, migration and borders

Rising inequalities and harassment as fundamental rights protection falters

Many people across the EU risk being left behind, as growing intolerance and attacks on people’s fundamental rights continue to erode the considerable progress achieved to date, finds FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2019.
Press Release
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Children, youth and older people
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Roma
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
People with disabilities
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Hate crime
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
Asylum, migration and borders

The fundamental rights of older people need to be better protected

Nearly 60% of Europeans consider being old a disadvantage when looking for work. Societies often view older people as burdens. Too often we overlook the basic human rights of our older people. This year, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in its 2018 Fundamental Rights Report explores how a rights-based approach towards respect for older people is starting to happen.
Press Release
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Asylum, migration and borders

IT: rights protection vs rights violations?

IT systems can help trace missing migrant children and combat identity theft. But there are also significant risks to people’s fundamental rights, for instance not being fairly treated within the asylum procedure. So finds the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in a new report. As authorities increasingly rely on these systems, the report suggests ways to better defend the rights of those affected.
Press Release
Data protection, privacy and new technologies

Fundamental rights in surveillance: builds trust, improves security

Reforms to surveillance laws are improving transparency but better checks and balances to match the powers of intelligence services are needed, finds a new report from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). It shows how clear legal frameworks, robust safeguards and effective oversight are needed to enhance security and respect fundamental rights.
Press Release
Asylum, migration and borders
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Roma
Children, youth and older people
People with disabilities
Hate crime
Sex, sexual orientation and gender

Bridging the gap between policies and reality: FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2017

Over the last decade, new fundamental rights laws and policies have been adopted and specialist institutions created. But fundamental rights challenges still remain and rights are under attack, underlining the lack of a fundamental rights culture across institutions and societies, as the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reveals in its 2017 Fundamental Rights Report.