Microsoft Hosts Privacy Video Competition in the EU for Data Protection Day

  • Article

Thomas Myrup Kristensen, EU Internet Policy Director for Microsoft blogs about today's Data Protection Day events in the EU on the Microsoft On the Issues Blog:

This year in Brussels, European Schoolnet, with the support of the European Parliament, the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee and Microsoft (led by my colleague Cornelia), turned to the public- and especially young adults from 15 to 19 years old, to engage in a campaign called "Surf the Net - think privacy", and understand how teenagers see privacy and what concerns they have. 

The young adults were asked to submit a short video with their thoughts, and I'm very impressed with the energy, creativity, thoughtfulness and enthusiasm that the video entries submitted displayed. Take a look on the event Web site and watch the winning entries here. Entries were judged by a jury of panelists from Data Protection Authorities, MEP Sophie in't Veld, representatives of the Council of Europe and John Vassallo, Microsoft's Vice-President of EU Affairs.

The three winning entries from Bulgaria, Portugal and Romania, as well as the winners of a separate project carried out in partnership by two different schools in Greece and Lithuania, were recognized by EU Commission Vice-President Barrot and other prominent guests at an awards ceremony at the Data Protection Day event at the European Parliament in Brussels.

This year's Data Protection Day marks an important milestone in awareness raising and public-private partnerships, but data protection is a continuous journey, not a single destination. Microsoft will continue to invest in great privacy friendly products and services and will continue to work with privacy leaders to develop a culture of online trust. Today's events showed that it certainly is also possible to have some fun along the way!

There's more here...