Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission in charge of Information Society and Media, The Future of the Internet and Europe’s Digital Agenda – Brussels, 6 October 2009
“In less than 10 years, the internet has grown from being a novel technical gadget application into becoming central to the economic systems of the developed world. This is because of its horizontal nature, it is everywhere, used throughout industry, economy and society whether for business or for leisure. It has driven more than half of the productivity gains in both the EU and the USA. It is the medium through which Information and Communication technologies can be exploited leading to innovation in business and a wide range of economic and societal benefits to citizens and consumers… One issue that is getting my full attention is the protection of privacy and of personal data in the online environment.”
