The digital world and the new frontiers of the European courts case-law

Resumo

Finding the right balance between achieving the full potential of the digital economy in terms of innovation and economic growth, on the one hand, and protecting the core values of our societies, including fundamental rights and the rule of law, on the other hand, has become a pressing issue for political and judicial authorities. Data generated by electronic communications is an important tool in the fight against organized crime and terrorism, whose effectiveness depends on the use of modern research techniques. However, the pursuance of that general interest objective must be balanced against the need to protect the fundamental rights to privacy and to personal data from the most serious interferences.