Press Release: Restoring trust in transatlantic data flows through strong safeguards: European Commission presents EU-U.S. Privacy Shield

The European Commission issued on 29 February 2016 the legal texts that put in place the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield and a Communication summarising the actions taken over the last years to restore trust in transatlantic data flows since the 2013 surveillance revelations. In line with President Juncker's political guidelines, the Commission has (i) finalised the reform of EU Data protection rules, which apply to all companies providing services on the EU market, (ii) negotiated the EU-U.S. Umbrella Agreement ensuring high data protection standards for data transfers across the Atlantic for law enforcement purposes, and (iii) achieved a renewed sound framework for commercial data exchange: the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/434, 29.02.16:EU-U.S. Privacy Shield: Frequently Asked Questions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-434_en.htm

ESO: Background Information: Statement by Commissioner Věra Jourová on the signature of the Judicial Redress Act by President Obama http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-by-commissioner-vera-jourova-on-the-signature-of-the-judicial-redress-act-by-president-obama/

ESO: Background Information: Questions and Answers on the EU-US data protection 'Umbrella agreement' http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-questions-and-answers-on-the-eu-us-data-protection-umbrella-agreement/

Euractiv, 29.02.16: Commission wants EU-US ‘Privacy Shield’ by end of June http://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/commission-wants-eu-us-privacy-shield-by-end-of-june/

Politico, 29.02.16: 5 takeaways from the privacy shield http://www.politico.eu/article/privacy-shield-agreement-takeaways-text-released/

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/

EUObserver, 29.02.16: Bulk collection still allowed under EU-US data 'shield' https://euobserver.com/justice/132499

The Guardian, 29.02.16: 'Privacy shield' – the new deal governing how Europe's user data is sent to the US http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/29/privacy-shield-eu-law-user-data-us-companies-google-facebook

EurActiv, 15.03.16: Oettinger: Privacy Shield should take effect in June http://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/oettinger-privacy-shield-should-take-effect-in-june/

EurActiv, 18.03.16: Privacy Shield negotiators on defensive ahead of member states’ review http://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/privacy-shield-negotiators-on-defensive-ahead-of-member-states-review/

EUObserver, 18.03.16: Cracks emerge in EU US data 'shield' https://euobserver.com/justice/132736

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