Giovanni Buttarelli (Italian lawyer and data protection expert)

Giovanni Buttarelli was an influential Italian lawyer and expert in data protection and privacy rights. He served as the European Data Protection Supervisor from 2014 until his passing in 2020, where he played a crucial role in shaping policies that protect individuals' personal data in the European Union. Buttarelli advocated for stronger privacy regulations, particularly in the digital age, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding personal information in the face of increasing surveillance and data collection. His work contributed significantly to the development of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a landmark law enhancing data protection across Europe.