CoE 108+ and the GDPR: A Modernised Look and Nexus at Protecting Personal Data Worldwide

Date: 6 March 2020

Time: 09:00-18:30

Place: Swiss Hotel Bosphorus Istanbul

The event is only by invitation.

On the Conference

CoE 108+ and the GDPR: A Modernised Look and Nexus at Protecting Personal Data Worldwide Conference will take place on 6 March, 2020 in Istanbul.

The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which came into force in 2018, provides the highest level of protection for the right to data protection, which is one of the fundamental rights and freedoms of an individual. In this respect, GDPR is also a reference standard for other states in the world in terms of data protection legislation. Another international text that had played a similar role to GDPR for a long time in terms of ensuring harmonization of different legal orders is the Council of Europe Convention No. 108 of 1981 on the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data. Turkey has been party to both the Convention No. 108 and its Additional Protocol to the Convention No. 181 since 2016. The Convention, which has been modernized in line with GDPR, has been opened for signature by states since 2018 under the name 108+. As of today, 55 countries are party to Convention No. 108, while 38 countries have already signed 108+.

Conference, with the reflections of the global harmonized data protection system that is being created with GDPR and 108+ in relation to personal data, will focus on issues such as  international data transfer and adequacy, within the legal framework that will support the data-based economy, not only within the EU, but on a global scale. The GDPR and CoE 108+, the two main legal instruments, which play an important role for all states in achieving the delicate balance between maintaining the respect for the right to data protection and the data-driven economy, will be discussed in the conference. In this way, while protecting the right of the individual on the data, the economic value to be generated from the data will be evaluated extensively.

Gathering together all stakeholders including regulators, the authorities, academia, tech people and private sector who possess the competency to resolve international data flow related issues in Turkey, this conference will pave the way towards introducing solutions and suggestions to issues around international data transfer, while accelerating the process of convergence to data privacy laws and standards, aiming conformity with GDPR.  

This conference will trigger a discussion on significant issues that market players in Turkey have been struggling with since the very introduction of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data numbered 6698. During the conference, with the participation of respected and principal thought leaders from around the world, recent developments in the field of privacy, best practises and privacy tools and mechanisms will be discussed particularly focusing on the topics of accountability, adequacy and international data transfer. 

Conference Schedule* 

6 March, 2020 Swiss Hotel Bosphorus Istanbul

WORKING SESSION (Closed Meeting - Only for the public sector- 60 Participants)

09:00 - 09:30          Registration

09:30 - 09:45          Welcome Speech

On the road to global modernisation and harmonisation: Understanding the importance of free flow of data

Leyla Keser Berber, IT Law Institute, Istanbul Bilgi University
 Mehmet Bedii Kaya, IT Law Institute, Istanbul Bilgi University

09:45 - 10:15          Opening Remarks

H.E. Abdülhamit Gül, Minister of Justice
 H.E. Prof Dr Mustafa Şentop, President of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey 

10:15 - 10:30          Coffee Break

10:30 - 12:00          Discussion topics:
International Data Flows, Adequacy, CoE
 108- 108+, Accountability @ GDPR

Moderator: Leyla Keser Berber & Yasin Beceni, Istanbul Bilgi University

Bruno Gencarelli, Head of the International Data Flows and Protection Unit at European Commission
  Sophie Kwasny, Head of the Data Protection Unit of the Council of Europe
  Ralf Sauer, Deputy Head of Unit International Data Flows & Protection at European Commission
  Prof. Dr. Jos Dumortier, Center for IT&IP Law, Leuven University
  Javier Lopez Gonzales, OECD
  Ruth Boardman, Bird & Bird

Q&A Session (20 mins)

12:10 - 13:10          Lunch

CONFERENCE (Invite only – Open for Public & Private Sector – 200 Participants)

12:30 - 13:15          Registration

13.15- 13.30           Welcoming Speech

Leyla Keser Berber, IT Law Institute, Istanbul Bilgi University
 Mehmet Bedii Kaya, IT Law Institute, Istanbul Bilgi University

13:30 - 15:00          Topic 1: Towards a globally harmonized legal system & International Data Flows and Adequacy CoE 108 - 108+

Moderator: Leyla Keser Berber & Yasin Beceni, IT Law Institute, Istanbul Bilgi University

Bruno Gencarelli, Head of the International Data Flows and Protection Unit at European Commission
  Ralf Sauer, Deputy Head of Unit International Data Flows & Protection at European Commission
  Sophie Kwasny, Head of the Data Protection Unit of the Council of Europe
  Elizabeth Denham, Commissioner, ICO (TBC)
  Rohit Chopra, Commissioner, FTC (TBC)
  Prof Dr Faruk Bilir, Chairman of Turkish Data Protection Authority
  Javier Lopez Gonzales, OECD

Q&A (15 mins) 

15:00 - 15:15          Coffee Break

15:15 - 16:45          Topic 2: Voice of Private Sector Companies

Moderator: Ruth Boardman, Partner, Bird & Bird

Amazon – VP Level
 Microsoft – VP Level
 Kenan Yılmaz,  General Counsel, Koç Holding
  SAP – VP Level
  IBM – VP Level

Q&A (15 mins)

16.45 – 17.00         Fire Side Chat – Future of Privacy Professionals & Privacy Compliance Technologies

Moderator: Leyla Keser Berber & Yasin Beceni, IT Law Institute, Istanbul Bilgi University

Traver Hughes – President of IAPP
 Kabir Barday – CEO of One Trust

17:15 – 17.30         Closing
  Joe Cannataci, UN Special Rapporteur

17.30 - 18:30          Networking Cocktail

* Conference schedule may be subject to further changes.