Privacy policy can relate to information about the most personal and individual aspects of citizens’ lives. The right to privacy is recognised as a fundamental right in both the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. In the EU privacy is deemed to be a key social value that is essential for human dignity, liberty, and democracy.  Yet privacy policy has also become central to several international geopolitical and trade controversies with potentially major economic and social consequences.

This paper explores some of the ways in which privacy policy has become geopoliticised and reviews some of the implications of this for international relations, trade, and fundamental rights. It ultimately presents possible steps that could be considered by policymakers to reduce the unintended negative consequences of geopolitical privacy challenges, and which could help the EU to protect and promote the value of privacy globally.

Any viewpoints expressed in this paper solely belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect those of other participants in this project or the project’s sponsor.

This paper is published as part of a project which brings together think tanks from across the EU to explore some of the key themes relating to European digital policy. Apple provided financial support to help bring these think tanks together.