TALLINN, July 17 (Xinhua) -- European delegates for the Digital Single Market Conference Monday explored the chances and challenges of digital solutions for the EU to maximize the growth potential of the data economy.
Addressing the welcoming plenary, Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas stressed that Europe needs clear rules and efficient control to carry out the free movement of data.
"We need to look at questions of access, reuse and control of data, also from the privacy point of view," said Ratas, who pointed out that the free movement of data is a prerequisite for foundation of a digital single market of the European Union.
He reminded that innovation, better use of technology and more efficient data exchange would improve the daily life of the people, businesses and member states of the European Union.
Alex Pentland, professor at the U.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and data economy expert, said that the free movement of data will lead to new business opportunities and create a favorable ground for harmonizing social inequalities, which is also essential to make governments more efficient.
"We must not forget that the free movement of data has its perils as well. Ensuring the privacy of personal data is very important in moving and sharing of large amounts of data," said Pentland.
A total of almost 500 companies and representatives of the public sector from 31 countries around the world attended the conference in Tallinn, said the organizer.
Free movement of data is regarded as the Fifth Freedom of the EU's single market (beyond free movement of goods, capital, services, and people).
Estonia aims to establish a single market where digital solutions provide the best possible enablers for creating a favorable environment for entrepreneurship and for the deployment of new technologies in the EU.
