Brussels, Belgium – Europeans mark anniversary of the Data Privacy Day by demanding rules protecting their privacy, along with with digital civil rights groups from around Europe, sent a letter to the Council of the European Union in recognition of #International_Data_Privacy_Day. This letter urges representatives to protect the privacy of citizens through the swift adoption of updated and expanded data protection regulations.

“With the unprecedented pace of technological progress and increased global threats to privacy and data protection, citizens need guarantees that their fundamental rights are being upheld and protected,” said Raegan MacDonald, European Policy Manager at Access.

The European Commission released a proposed update to the current data protection framework, referred to as the Data Protection Reform Package. Yet more than two years later, little progress has been made towards achieving the much-needed modernization of EU data protection legislation.

“Progress in the Council has been painfully slow,” said MacDonald, adding that “As the Council takes its time, the rights ofEuropeans at risk. E.U. citizens are increasingly exposed to online fraud, data mining, corporate profiling, and their personal data is shared with other countries that have inadequate legal protections.”

This year’s International Data Privacy Day takes place in the context of increased concern among European citizens about their online privacy, following the 2013 revelation about mass government surveillance. Europeans today are increasingly demanding stronger protection of their personal data.

Access – together with Bits of Freedom, EDRi, Panoptykon, Privacy International and other European NGOs – recently highlighted the importance of the rights to privacy and data protection, while calling publicly for a speedy conclusion to deliberations on the proposed Data Protection Reform Package.

“In the wake of last year’s revelations about government mass surveillance, along with ongoing corporate collection, mining, and storage of personal data, the E.U. has an obligation to protect its citizens from pervasive threats to privacy and data protection,” said MacDonald. “The Council’s delay tactics must come to an end. Europeans demand constructive progress and real online privacy protections.”