The French Data Protection Authority (the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés or CNIL) opened a public consultation on cloud computing, citing the growing significance of the cloud computing market: “already €6 billion at the European level, with a yearly growth of approximately 20%”. The CNIL is focusing on five areas: definition of cloud computing, role of the parties, applicable law, international transfers of data outside the European Union and data security. Public input into the issue is sought by the CNIL, as explained in this blog entry.