Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Relations as a Challenge for Democracy

I think you are misunderstanding the perceived problem here, Mr President. No one is saying that you broke any laws. We are just saying it is a little bit weird that you did not have to.--John Oliver, The Daily Show, June 10, 2013***John Oliver formulated in this context the very question about the limits, about the use and abuse, of the law and of the state's power when it comes to global mass surveillance practices. Where does lie the 'thin red line' between the two legitimate yet seemingly competing interests: national security and privacy? [.]The result we present to the reader might seem merely another book about the Snowden affaire and the fall of Safe Harbor, but these two have been (only) an inspiration. Our object of interest is the protection of data privacy in relations between Europe and Americas as a challenge for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. [.] The present book is very clearly an anthology - it is a compilation of diverse contributions, from different perspectives, within a broad topic.Our aim with this volume is to highlight a selection of particularly 'hot' questions within the topic of trans-Atlantic data privacy relations as they look at the end of 2016. [.] In the final chapter, we draw out and highlight those themes we see emerging within the body of this work. We eventually attempt to suggest a few lessons de lege ferenda.--From the Preface by the editors (Series: European Integration and Democracy, Vol. 4) [Subject: Public Law, Privacy Law, Politics]