Surveillance & Privacy

Europe Is Deeply Unserious

Paul Rosenzweig
Thursday, July 27, 2017, 10:41 AM

Being an American is tough these days. One has to explain a lot to foreigners that is inexplicable. Then, along comes Europe to show that congential foolishness is not a uniquely American trait. Consider this bit of privacy imperialism from the European Court of Justice. Apparently the court thinks that Canada's data privacy laws—CANADA!—is inadequate to protect European privacy.

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Being an American is tough these days. One has to explain a lot to foreigners that is inexplicable. Then, along comes Europe to show that congential foolishness is not a uniquely American trait. Consider this bit of privacy imperialism from the European Court of Justice. Apparently the court thinks that Canada's data privacy laws—CANADA!—is inadequate to protect European privacy. Last week I wrote about American hubris in thinking the U.K. had inadequate privacy sensitivity. Our hubris has nothing on the Europeans. Anyone who has the least bit of hope for a common Western approach to privacy, data exchange and national security has to look at the ECJ and despair.


Paul Rosenzweig is the founder of Red Branch Consulting PLLC, a homeland security consulting company and a Senior Advisor to The Chertoff Group. Mr. Rosenzweig formerly served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy in the Department of Homeland Security. He is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at George Washington University, a Senior Fellow in the Tech, Law & Security program at American University, and a Board Member of the Journal of National Security Law and Policy.

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