CORDIS Express: Privacy and security in a digital age
We want to know that the world we live in is safe and secure. We also want our privacy and freedom to be fully ensured. As web-based attacks in the EU and around the world grow (attacks increased by 36 % during 2011) and international security concerns are heightened, we have to ask ourselves if both our security and our privacy can be fully guaranteed. The EU is seeking to address both of these concerns for citizens, businesses and public bodies. The EU’s Digital Agenda, for example, sets out 14 actions(opens in new window) to improve cyber security readiness. When it comes to privacy, the Data Protection Directive(opens in new window) aims to ensure that personal data can only be gathered under strict conditions and for legitimate purposes. In 2012, the Commission proposed a major reform(opens in new window) of the EU legal framework on the personal data protection which aims to strengthens individual rights and tackles the challenges of globalisation and new technologies. More recently, in 2014, the Court of Justice of the EU issued a landmark ruling on the ‘right to be forgotten’, in relation to online search engines. Research and innovation efforts play a hugely important role in helping us to develop the technologies and processes that can support policies and actions to safeguard our security and our privacy. Under the Horizon 2020 Challenge Secure societies – Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens(opens in new window), one of the main aims is to provide enhanced cyber security, ranging from secure information sharing to new assurance models. This Challenge encourages an ‘end-user driven approach’ which would strive to meet the needs of diverse groups including enforcement agencies, first responders, operators of critical infrastructures, ICT service providers, ICT manufacturers, market operators and citizens. Another key focus of Horizon 2020’s security-related activities(opens in new window) is ensuring privacy and freedom, including on the Internet, and enhancing the societal legal and ethical understanding of all areas of security, risk and management. A number of Horizon 2020 calls under the heading Digital Security: Cybersecurity, privacy and trust(opens in new window) will open in March 2015. In the meantime, this week’s edition of CORDIS Express takes a look at the research projects currently addressing privacy and security concerns, as well as related news and events. - Safeguarding citizens while respecting their right to privacy(opens in new window) - Digital ethics and our future in a connected world(opens in new window) - Trending science: The encryption debate(opens in new window) - Cybersecurity on SCADA: risk prediction, analysis and reaction tools for Critical Infrastructures(opens in new window) - Defence against computer attacks(opens in new window) - SPIE Security + Defence(opens in new window)
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Belgium