5 Things You Need To Know From The DPC's 2014 Annual Report

Ireland's new Data Protection Commissioner (the "DPC"), Helen Dixon, has issued her first annual report (the "2014 Report"). What do you and your business need to know about the DPC's annual report? We look at five headline issues, including the DPC's cooperation with global regulators, plans for upcoming audits and the expansion of the DPC's staff and budget.

1. The DPC goes global

In 2014, the DPC actively engaged with her fellow EU data protection authorities ("DPAs"), as well as with DPAs from around the globe. These included Canadian, Australian and US authorities, with whom the DPC cooperated in relation to a global security breach. In the 2014 Report, the DPC has underlined the importance of the memoranda of understanding with these global DPAs, noting the efficiencies resulting from these arrangements.  Given the growing cluster of US tech companies in Ireland, the DPC is aiming towards greater international cooperation and consultation. Indeed, one of