Security News > 2020 > June > Microsoft Chief Says EU 'Most Influential' on Tech Rules
Microsoft president Brad Smith on Tuesday said Europe was the global leader on setting rules for big tech, two years after the EU implemented the GDPR, its landmark data privacy law.
Smith spoke at an online debate with European Commission vice president Vera Jourova, the top EU official who was in charge of the data privacy rules when they became reality in 2018.
The rules also gave EU regulators the power to fine and punish internet actors - including Facebook, Google or Uber - who broke the rules on protecting personal data.
GDPR is seen as a major accomplishment by EU officials and Jourova underlined that the law made it easier to develop tracing apps to fight a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic, despite concerns over privacy.
The GDPR's second anniversary will be marked on Wednesday by the release of an EU report underlining some of its remaining shortcomings.