Amidst these August days, many of us are putting off the thought of autumn for as long as possible, but for this week's short letter, I thought it was worth turning our eyes toward November just for a few moments as our IAPP Europe Data Protection Congress is shaping up to, once again, be a truly exceptional event this year, and we’ll be gathering in Brussels a bit earlier than in years past.

With new speakers being added and a schedule reflecting the top issues in our profession today, the congress is ever-evolving, so please be sure to visit our new IAPP website if you have not already to see some of the close-ups already posted there about our keynote speakers and other DPC presenters. With preconference workshops scheduled for 18 November and the congress slated for 19 and 20 November, the week will also include privacy training sessions prior to the conference on 17 November and certification testing opportunities on 21 November after DPC concludes.

Here’s just a glimpse of what is coming our way in November:

• Conversations in Privacy on “A Transatlantic Perspective: BCRs, Safe Harbour and Privacy Seals”
• Breakout sessions on the themes of Data Governance, Accountability and Privacy by Design; EU Data Protection Reform; Marketing and Big Data; Online and Mobile Privacy, and Privacy and Technology
• Sessions to gain additional expertise, including the topics “Are You Ready to Handle a Data Breach? Breach Response under the Forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation” and “Don’t Mess with Kids’ Data: Understanding the Sensitivities, Legal Framework and Best Practice Solutions for Protecting Children’s Privacy Online.”
• And, of course, we’ll have networking opportunities, including the Privacy Party on 19 November at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

In the interim, read on for the past week’s privacy headlines as you enjoy these summer days, and I look forward to seeing you in Brussels in November.