European Commission launches EU-U.S. Privacy Shield: stronger protection for transatlantic data flows

On the 12 July 2016 the European Commission adopted the EU-U.S. Privacy shield. This new system aimed to protect citizens and businesses whose data was transferred from an EU country to the United States.

The political agreement on a new framework had been reached on the 2 February 2016 by the European Commission and the US Government.

The new rules had been necessary after the rejection by the European Court of Justice in October 2015 of the existing 'Safe Harbour' rules, citing a lack of privacy safeguards for EU citizens.

However, data protection campaigners were expected to again go the European Court of Justice to challenge the new pact on the grounds that it still failed to protect EU citizens.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Statement by Vice-President Ansip and Commissioner Jourová on the occasion of the adoption by Member States of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-by-vice-president-ansip-and-commissioner-jourova-on-the-occasion-of-the-adoption-by-member-states-of-the-eu-u-s-privacy-shield/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/MEMO/16/2462, 12.07.16: EU-U.S. Privacy Shield: Frequently Asked Questions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-2462_en.htm

ESO: Background information: EU Commission and United States agree on new framework for transatlantic data flows: EU-US Privacy Shield http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-commission-and-united-states-agree-on-new-framework-for-transatlantic-data-flows-eu-us-privacy-shield/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/16/2500, 12.07.16: Commissioner Jourová's remarks at the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield press point http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-2500_en.htm

EurActiv, 12.07.16: Privacy Shield forced US to be ‘transparent’ about intelligence agencies http://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/privacy-shield-forced-us-to-be-transparent-about-intelligence-agencies/

EUObserver, 13.07.16: Privacy Shield will not survive legal challenge, says Schrems https://euobserver.com/digital/134322

The Wall Street Journal, 12.07.16: EU Approves ‘Privacy Shield’ Data-Transfer Pact With U.S. http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-approves-privacy-shield-data-transfer-pact-with-u-s-1468322858

Deutsche Welle, 12.07.16: 'Privacy Shield' transatlantic data deal to replace 'Safe Harbor' http://dw.com/p/1JNa1

The New York Times, 12.07.16: Europe Approves New Trans-Atlantic Data Transfer Deal http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/technology/europe-eu-us-privacy-shield.html

The Washington Post, 12.07.16: Major E.U.-U.S. privacy agreement approved https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/07/12/major-eu-us-privacy-agreement-appoved/

ESO: Find further information in ESO on this topic http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=safe%20harbour%20privacy%20shield%20&searchOption=all

Wired, 12.07.16: Privacy Shiled will let US Tech Giants grab Europeans' data http://www.wired.com/2016/07/privacy-shield-will-let-us-tech-giants-grab-europeans-data/

Statewatch, 11.07.16: Privacy Shield gets the go-ahead http://statewatch.org/news/2016/jul/eu-us-privacy-shield-approval.htm

ESO: Background information: Irish court hears Facebook data privacy challenge http://www.europeansources.info/record/irish-court-hears-facebook-data-privacy-challenge/

EUObserver, 08.09.16: Snowden: Privacy Shield won't stop US mass surveillance https://euobserver.com/justice/134958

EUObserver, 27.10.16: Privacy activists mount court challenge to EU-US data pact https://euobserver.com/justice/135680

Politico, 27.10.16: Privacy shield data agreement challenged before EU court http://www.politico.eu/article/privacy-shield-data-agreement-challenged-before-ecj/

EurActiv, 03.11.16: EU-US Privacy Shield pact faces second legal challenge http://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/eu-us-privacy-shield-pact-faces-second-legal-challenge/

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