INTERNET : COMMISSION CREATES EXPERTS GROUP WITH GOOGLE ON PRIVACY.

The European Commission created, on 4 December 2008, an experts group on the protection of private data in the EU as regards technological and international developments. Participating in this group will be: a representative from the world number one search engine, Google, another from processors giant Intel (both American), two European lawyers and a representative from the Dutch data protection authority (DPA).

The objective for the moment is not to revise Directive 95/46/EC on the protection of personal data, according to EU Justice, Liberty and Security Commissioner Jacques Barrot's spokesperson. It is only a question of a "reflection" on the matter. "We must have an up-to-date, clear vision. This is why the independent experts group was created," he said. "At this stage, it is a reflection on all aspects to identify the major stakes," he added, without specifying the nature of the work.

According to our information, the reflection could concern the creation of a regulator at European level, likely to simplify the life of players in the sector, confronted with 27 national legislations, as well as on the modernisation of data transfers outside of the EU.

In any event, it is a godsend for Google, in comparison to its competitors Yahoo! and Microsoft. "It is an opportunity to reflect, to give the Commission ideas on the way in which we think that the European legislation on privacy can be most effective," explained Peter Fleischer, the privacy advisor for the search engine, who will be part of the experts group. "Our objective is to reinforce...