Data protection: EU-US standoff

The EU-US Privacy Shield is to replace the so-called safe harbour agreement about the transfer of personal data between EU and the US — after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) invalidated the latter.

As reported earlier, the privacy shield is a principal agreement that yet has to be filled with substance. Even though the European Commission and Washington claim to have struck a deal, it is far from being finalised.

Actually, things are moving the opposite way. Reuters:

Last week, the EU’s 28 data protection authorities – known as the Article 29 Working Party – published a non-binding opinion on the framework which called for more reassurances over U.S. surveillance practices and the independence of a new U.S. privacy ombudsman.

Leaving some of the regulators’ concerns unaddressed could increase the chances of the Privacy Shield being challenged in court by privacy advocates, much as its predecessor was.

This is a mess. Obviously, the EU is not strong enough to stand up to the US on data protection. And the US is not interested in respecting a strong European legal framework in this field.

Some links:
• EU data enforcers demand privacy shield fixes »
• Privacy panel trips up transatlantic data deal »
• US businesses: Start preparing for the EU’s new privacy regulation »
• U.S. reluctant to change data pact after EU watchdogs’ concerns »

Earlier posts:
• “EU-US Privacy Shield must be sent back to negotiators” »
• The EU-US Privacy Shield: EU presents a pointless proposal »
• The EU-US Privacy Shield Illusion »
• An EU-US Privacy Shield? »

/ HAX

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