Conference: "Data and competition: between economic opportunities and regulatory proliferation"

Data has become a strategic asset in the competition between companies, which are faced with a growing proliferation of regulations and must find a balance between the opportunities linked to the exploitation of data and compliance with competition law and the law on the protection of personal data.

On Wednesday 28 June 2023, we had the pleasure of co-organising a conference with the Sciences Po Law School on the theme: "Data and competition: between economic opportunities and regulatory proliferation".

On this occasion, we were honoured to welcome Benoît Cœuré, Chairman of the French Competition Authority, Bertrand du Marais, Member of the College of the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL), and Brice Allibert, Head of Unit at the European Commission, to offer a cross-section of the latest developments in European and French competition and personal data law.

The Sciences Po Law School was represented by its Director, Professor Sébastien Pimont, and Professor Alexandre de Streel (Professor at the University of Namur - Belgium and Visiting Professor at the Sciences Po Law School)

Two major issues were addressed throughout the morning :

"The strategic dimension of data for business (access, storage and use)", a panel moderated by Laurent Godfroid, partner at Gide, with the following speakers:

- Francisco Mingorance (General Secretary, CISPE);

- Martine Gouriet (Director of Digital Uses, EDF);

- Brice Allibert (Head of Unit, European Commission);

- Alexandre de Streel (Professor at the University of Namur - Belgium, Visiting Professor at the Sciences Po Law School).

"Coherent and effective regulations? The example of personal data protection", a panel moderated by Thierry Dor and Dimitri Dimitrov, Gide partners, with the following speakers:

- Benoît Coeuré (Chairman of the French Competition Authority) ;

- Bertrand du Marais (Member of the CNIL College);

- Alexandre de Streel (Professor at the University of Namur - Belgium, Visiting Professor at the Sciences Po Law School).

Thank you to all the speakers for these rich debates and to all the participants for these fascinating exchanges.