History of data protection: 1975

Key developments

🇪🇺 The European Parliament adopts Resolution of 21 February 1975 on the protection of the rights of the individual in the face of developing technical progress in the field of automatic data processing. On this Resolution, see also:
- Interim report drawn up on behalf of the Legal Affairs Committee on the protection of the rights of the individual in the face of developing technical progress in the field of automatic data processing (‘Mansfield report’), European Parliament, Document 487/74, PE 39.608 fin., 19 February 1975.
- European Parliament, Debate on 21 February 1975 on the Protection of the individual’s rights with regard to automatic data-processing, Report of Proceedings No. 186. 1974-1975 Session, 254-257.
🇬🇧 In the United Kingdom, the Government responds to the recommendations of the ‘Younger Report’ concerning computers with a highly anticipated Computers and Privacy White Paper: Home Office, Computers and Privacy (White Paper), Cmnd. 6353, and Home Office, Computers: Safeguards for Privacy (White Paper), Cmnd. 6354 (HMSO, London, 1975), document including draft, HMSO, London.
🇫🇷 In France is published the Rapport de la Commission informatique et libertés known as ‘Rapport Tricot’.

Also this year

🇪🇺 The European Commission publishes the Communication Community policy for data-processing, COM(75) 467 final, 10 September 1975. See also: Commission proposal for second series of priority projects in data processing at a cost of 23 million units of account. Information Memo P-55/75, September 1975.
A ‘Privacy Conference‘ is organised from 2 to 4 April 1975 by the National Bureau of Standards and the MITRE Corporation for computer users from business and government to exchange views on the impact of privacy legislation.

Literature

Arén, Kerstin (1975), Datamakt, Gummessons.
Armer, Paul (1975), ‘Individual: His privacy, self-image, and obsolescence’, Computers and People, 24(6), June, 18-31.
Armer, Paul (1975), ‘Computer technology and surveillance‘, Computers and People, 24(9), 8-11.
Bull, Hans Peter (1975), ‘Entscheidungsfragen in Sachen Datenschutz‘, Zeitschrift für Rechtspolitik 8(1), 7-13.
Colson et al. (1975), Computer en privacy: Automautomatisering van persoonsinformatie en bescherming van de persoonlijke levenssfeer, Acco.
Foucault, Michel (1975), Surveiller et punir: Naissance de la prison, Gallimard.
Hondius, F. W. (1975), Emerging Data Protection in Europe, North-Holland Publishing Co.

Larson, K. S. (1975) ‘Privacy, a public concern: A resource document based on the proceedings of a Seminar on Privacy‘ – materials compiled for use in a Washington, D.C. seminar held in December 1974, co-sponsored by the Domestic Council Committee on the Right of Privacy and the Council of State Governments.
Loiodice, Aldo (1975), ‘Informatica, banche di dati e diritto dell’informazione‘, Rivista Internazionale Informatica e Diritto, fasc. 1, 118-161,
Privacy, Ars Aequi – juridisch stendenblad, XXIV 3 maart 1975.
Privacy and Protection of Personal Information in Europe: Privacy Developments in Europe and their Implications for United States Policy: A Staff Report of the Committee on Government Operations, United States Senate, 1975.
Seidel, Ulrich, and Ulrich Bechmann (1975), ‘Datenschutz aus der Sicht der Anwender‘, Band 4, Heft 4 Dezember 1975, De Gruyter, 341-347.

In the media

‘Senate to Get Bill T is Week to Protect Privacy of Citizens‘, The New York Times, 13 April 1975.
‘Sweden Allows Volvo To Log Employes’ Calls‘, The New York Times, 1 June 1975.
‘Data bank protests‘, Press, CXV, 33858, 2 June 1975, 2.
Burnham, David, ‘FBI’s Data Plan Scored by Agency‘, The New York Times, 4 June 1975.
‘Privacy bill heard’, Press, CXV, 33905, 26 July 1975, 2.
‘British computers face privacy curb‘, The New York Times, 17 December 1975, 10.
‘No ‘Big Brother’ take-over in U.K.’, Press, CXV, 34031, 20 December 1975, 15.

Music

🎵 Ella Fitzgerald ‘T’aint nobody’s bizness‘ (from Ella Fitzgerald At The Montreux Jazz Festival 1975, Pablo Records, 1975).