The historic European Union Directive on Data Protection will take effect in October 1998. A key provision will prohibit transfer of personal information from Europe to other countries if they lack "adequate" protection of privacy. If enforced as written, the Directive could create enormous obstacles to commerce between Europe and other countries, such as the United States, that do not have comprehensive privacy statutes.

This book provides the first detailed analysis of the sector-by-sector effects of the Directive. It examines such topics as the tension between privacy laws and modern...

In today's digital age, rapid innovation has provided us with incredible new technologies that make collecting and sharing information easier than ever. Government use of this technology has proved controversial, however, because it raises important questions about civil liberties and individual privacy rights.