Cloud Computing: Legal Analysis

Summary

The report identifies critical issues of cloud computing with respect to the current European data protection legislation. The legal foundations of European privacy & data protection and their basic principles will be presented, focusing mainly on the requirements of the EU Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC. The provisions of accountability of data processors and controllers will be explained and the conditions under which lawful data processing can take place will be analysed. The additional challenges of cross-border data transfers in a cloud environment will be discussed. Finally, this report highlights possible resolutions and draws conclusions by forecasting future legal challenges of cloud computing.