International conference on online privacy

An international conference with the theme “Online Privacy: Consenting to your future” is being held at the Hilton Malta Hotel on 20 and 21 March, organised as part of the CONSENT project in which the University of Malta is a partner.

CONSENT, Consumer sentiment regarding privacy on user generated content services in the digital economy, has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme. The project has been examining how consumer behaviour and commercial practices are changing the role of consent in the processing of personal data.

One of the key changes in societal trends and lifestyles witnessed over the past few years has been the move online of many consumers and the way they have become increasingly sophisticated in their media consumption habits. While consumer consent is a fundamental value on which the European market economy is based, the way consumer consent is obtained is questionable in popular usergenerated (UGC) online services whose commercial success depends to a large extent on the disclosure by their users of substantial amounts of personal data.

CONSENT’s multidisciplinary team has carried out a status quo analysis of commercial practices, legal position and consumer attitudes relating to user generated content services, identifying criteria for fairness and best practices, and created a toolkit for policy makers and corporate counsel which will enable them to address problems identified in the analysis. Some of the key findings from the CONSENT project will be presented during the conference.

Speakers at the conference include Viviane Reding, Marc Rotenberg, Peter Hustinx, Lara Ballard, Sophie Kwasny, Nevena Ruzic and Max Schrems.

Registration for the conference costs €195 and includes the two day conference and conference materials; and buffet lunch, midmorning and mid-afternoon coffee and snacks each day. Registration and more information about the conference is available at www.onlineprivacyconference.eu