[Privsec] report from meeting with IWGDPT chair / WGIG follow-up

[Ralf Bendrath]

Hi all,

as announced, I had a meeting with the chair of the International Working 
Group on Data Protection in Telecommunications (the "Berlin Group"), the 
Berlin Data Protection Commissioner Alexander Dix.

The meeting was quite good, I was able to give him some concrete, 
operationalised ideas on how to proceed from their side with WGIG 
follow-up and the general WSIS process.

1. DP Commissioners Input into WGIG follow-up:
The Berlin Group will now submit written comments to the WGIG report until 
15th August, and Dix will also try to get more concrete language into the 
draft of the final declaration for the international data protection 
conference in Montreux right before PrepCom3. He also noted WHOIS as an 
important point.
(I will try to draft a statement of this group together with Karen until 
14 August, so we can submit it in time).

2. Working Relationship with the Berlin Group
Dix also was happy about my question about options for involvement from 
our side in the Berlin Group, and as Gus had announced interest in 
participation, he will now get an invitation to join them. :-)

3. side-event on privacy during the PrepCom:
The Human Rights Caucus is preparing an event in the first week, either on 
21, 22, or 23 Septeber. They will book a four-hour slot and have offered 
to pass one half to us for a privacy panel.
Dix will not be able to particpate there, but recommended to ask the Swiss 
DP commissioner. The Montreux conference is hosted by them, the final 
declaration from there will mostly focus on internet related issues, and 
the Swiss are drafting it. So they should have an interest in speaking 
publicly about the outcomes of the conference and relate them to the 
internet governance debate. We have to decide about the concrete format of 
this event in due time, so please give your ideas.
(I am not sure, though, if we should really do it after the HR Caucus and 
in the same room, as their meeting will probably again be in a energetic 
atmosphere with all the Tunisian GONGOs around. Will be tough to get 
everybody calm again. If we book our own event for the 18th or so, we also 
have a bigger chance of making people from the Montreux meeting stay there 
over the weekend.)

4. Montreux pre-event:
Also, European Digital Rights is currently planning a pre-event in 
Montreux on 13 September, probably from 15:00 to 17:00. Dix was interested 
in participating, and if anybody from this group will be there anyway, 
please let us know.

So far for today.

Best, Ralf