The ChoicePoint debacle. The Patriot Act powers. In the digital age, it seems that everyone from Amazon.com, to your state DMV, to your local grocery store wants to get hold of your personal data, store it, analyze it, and share/sell it to companies you've never even heard of, without your knowledge or permission. But while Americans nervously scan article after article on the rising threat of identity theft, and the U.S. Congress holds hearings, Europeans think they have a better way to retain a little bit of control over your own privacy, and have since the 1980s: The Data Protection Act.

What is this act, that has been praised by consumer advocate groups and bemoaned by U.S. companies trying to globalize? To answer this, and to give a European perspective on the issue of data protection, Enterpriseleadership.org called on Mike Davis, senior analyst with the Butler Group, Europe's leading IT analyst group. Mike brings the experience, not only of an analyst and advisor to many non-European companies seeking to do business in Europe, but as a former longtime employee of the UK's health organization, for which he helped set up privacy protections when the Act was first implemented. As Mike frames it, he has spent most of his professional life operating within the bounds of the Data Protection Act, a fact he's very comfortable with, thanks very much.

Tune in for a frank and informative conversation about the European model for data privacy; how even this is subject to subtle interpretations from country to country within the European Union; what U.S. companies doing business in Europe most often do wrong with regards to data protection; and how coming technologies such as biometrics might play in the EU.

Bio

Mike Davis joined the Butler Group in December 2000, and specializes in the area of Knowledge Management, including search, navigation and taxonomy, portals, e-learning, and collaboration. Before joining Butler Group, Mike had 18 years of IT experience in both the public and private sectors. He held a variety of roles, starting as an analyst/programmer, progressing to IT and telecommunications management, operational management, and consultancy.

Resources

Butler Group

Production Credits

Dana Farver, Executive Producer, Communities Editor-in-Chief
Tom  Parish, Audio Producer, Show Host
Kimberly Stone, Web Development  Manager
Scott Ebner, Web Developer