Hunting for the 'Right to be be Forgotten'

INDIA: The new digital age brings both opportunities and risks. The launch of the Single Digital Market by the EU in May this year seeking to contribute €415 billion per year to the economy and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs represents a positive step forward for consumers, businesses and governments.

Meanwhile the increase in cyber-attacks and the growing risk of data loss together with the close scrutiny of current regulations, such as “Safe Harbour”, which has recently been declared invalid by the EU, present reasons for caution. In this new digital environment, it has never been more crucial for individuals to take control and manage their own personal data on-line.

It is interesting here to see that Atos opens registration for its IT Challenge – the first international student technology competition now in its fifth year and this year’s theme invites students to tackle - how to manage our own personal data on-line, so that we can benefit from all that the digital world offers, while protecting our privacy and importantly our Right to be Forgotten. Under certain conditions, the Right to be Forgotten gives individuals the right to request to have their data completely deleted by an information society service provider.

Gilles Grapinet, Senior Executive Vice President, Global Functions at Atos, said: “Our digital identities are at the heart of a new major security concern as societies embrace digital transformation. This is why in the 2016 Atos IT Challenge we are asking students around the world to find ways that technology can help us better protect our personal data online including - under the relevant conditions - our right to be forgotten. The Atos IT Challenge provides an excellent opportunity for students to turn their ideas into proofs of concepts and ultimately bring them to market and we are excited to see how they will use their knowledge and experience to create applications that help individuals better manage their online personal data.

For the first time the winner and runners up will receive cash prizes - €10,000, €5,000 and €3,000 respectively - to help bring their app to market, along with gaining support from numerous Atos top executives."