FEATURE28 August 2020

Data protection boundaries know no EU border

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Europe Features GDPR Impact Legal Privacy UK

Camilla Ravazzolo, data and privacy counsel at the MRS, writes about the European debate on research, ethics and GDPR, in her latest Impact column.

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Rumour has it, you can take the girl out of the country but not the country out of the girl. The UK might well have left the European Union but it hasn’t broken all ties just yet. Whether you are a 48 or a 52, it doesn’t really matter when it comes to data protection: its principles, values and ethics are here to stay.

That doesn’t mean they are dogma, or not up for discussion. Au contraire! Only one thing is more exciting than a pure doctrinal discussion about rights and freedoms: a practical one. How are businesses impacted? What does it mean for small and micro companies? Can I guarantee the safety of my research participants from existential threats? This is why conversations are important. This is why, when guidelines and guidance are drafted, their aim is not governing the laws of the universe but rather easing everyday life applications.

MRS has always championed conversations, especially with members, but also ...