2014 saw an alarming increase in the number of data breaches, discussions over the meaning of ‘personal data, issues with Google over the ‘right to be forgotten’ and criminal actions over phone hacking, leading to an increasing lack of trust in the ability of large organisations and businesses to preserve our personal data safely. For a statement issued by the EU today on its planned reform see – http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-3802_en.htm