Conference "Ethical Dimensions of Data Protection and Privacy"

Ethical Dimensions of Data Protection and Privacy.
Global and Local Challenges

Estonian National Opera, Estonia puiestee 4, Tallinn
9-10 January 2013

The conference is organised by the Centre for Ethics, University of Tartu and the Data Protection Inspectorate in Estonia with the support of the Estonian Ministry of Justice and the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research program“Values Development in Estonian Society 2009-2013”.
Honorary patron of the conference: Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of the Republic of Estonia.

The overall goal of the proposed conference is to present different aspects of the problematics of privacy and data protection. Since privacy has been interpreted in various ways in the scholarly literature and the legal practice of different nations, we will begin by clarifying fundamental questions: the nature and content of the concept of privacy, and the ethical values connected with the protection of privacy. Secondly, problems will be specified that need solutions and legal regulations that might be necessary in view of new technologies. The conference will provide an overview of the principles and history of legal regulations concerning protection of privacy in Europe. In addition, it is planned to analyse the European Commission’s new draft legislation on data protection regulations, and possible effects of these changes for Estonia and Europe as a whole. Besides general and theoretical issues, discussion will focus on how understandings of the value of privacy have changed due to the opportunities offered by new technologies; case studies on specific technologies will be used to focus on the ethical choices we face when the protection of privacy entails the sacrifice of another essential value. Problems of privacy and data protection are particularly acute in areas such as the mobility of people, goods, and services; surfing on the Internet and communication in social media networks.

The conference will be held in English and Estonian language, simultaneous translation provided.

Registrationuntil 3. January 2013.
Please see Ethicsweb for the programme

Information:
Triin Käpp
triin.kapp [at] ut.ee
737 5426
Centre for Ethics, University of Tartu