The European Union and the promotion of values in its external relations - the case of data protection

Abstract

In its relations with the wider world, the European Union (EU) is asked to uphold and to promote its values and interests. In light of its ambitions to promote the development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence which poses risks for the protection of personal data and the right to privacy, for example, the EU has expressed its desire to influence the international debate and to cooperate with others based on EU rules and values. The chapter will look at the role of data protection in the EU's external relations and the external reach of the General Data Protection Regulation with a particular focus on the EU's trade relationships. 'To address the opportunities and challenges of AI [Artificial Intelligence], the EU must act as one and define its own way, based on European values, to promote the development and deployment of AI'.