The technology foresight activities of European Union data protection authorities

•A systematic study of the foresight activity of EU data protection authorities•Technology foresight supports approaches such as privacy-by-design.•Emerging technologies demonstrate the specific challenges of DPA foresight.•Technology foresight activities are highly variable amongst EU DPAs.•A dedicated foresight task force of EU DPAs offers substantial benefits.

Data Protection Authorities play multiple roles, including education, consultancy, provision of policy advice, international coordination, as well as enforcement of regulation. In exercising these roles DPA's engage in a range of activities centred around understanding new technology developments, and anticipating their potential effects and impacts upon data protection and privacy. As responsible parties in relation to enforcement of national and EU data protection law DPAs are in a clear position to assess or provide guidance upon the requirements of the existing legal framework in relation to new technologies. This paper maps the technology foresight activities of European DPAs, the importance of this activity to their work, the particular challenges they face, and the extent to which such activities are performed in isolation or collaboration. It also assesses the potential for a collaborative EU DPA technology foresight task force.