Press Release: Article 29 Data Protection Working Party – Statement on the opinion on the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield

Following the publication by the European Commission of the draft adequacy decision on the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield and related documents in February 2016, the Article 29 Working Party conducted its assessment in light of the applicable EU data protection legal framework as set out in Directive 95/46/EC, as well as the fundamental rights to private life and data protection as enshrined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental rights of the European Union.

Overall, the Working Party welcomed the significant improvements brought by the Privacy Shield compared to the Safe Harbour decision. In particular, the insertion of key definitions, the mechanisms set up to ensure the oversight of the Privacy Shield list and the now mandatory external and internal reviews of compliance are a positive step forward.

However, the Working Party had strong concerns on both the commercial aspects and the access by public authorities to data transferred under the Privacy Shield.

• Primary Source

The Guardian, 14.04.16: Data regulators reject EU-US Privacy Shield safe harbour deal https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/14/data-regulators-reject-eu-us-privacy-shield-safe-harbour-deal

ESO: Sending data to the US: how to safeguard your privacy [European Parliament: Press Release, 18.03.16] http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-sending-data-to-the-us-how-to-safeguard-your-privacy/

ESO: Background information: Restoring trust in transatlantic data flows through strong safeguards: European Commission presents EU-U.S. Privacy Shield http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-restoring-trust-in-transatlantic-data-flows-through-strong-safeguards-european-commission-presents-eu-u-s-privacy-shield/

BBC News, 13.04.16: EU watchdogs demand revisions to Safe Harbour replacement http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36036531

EUObserver, 13.04.16: Regulator criticises 'Privacy Shield' for EU data in US https://euobserver.com/justice/133038

The Wall Street Journal, 13.04.16: EU Regulators Call for Changes to EU-U.S. Privacy Accord http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-regulators-dont-endorse-eu-u-s-data-deal-1460548439

The New York Times, 13.04.16: Europe’s Privacy Watchdogs Call for Changes to U.S. Data-Transfer Deal http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/technology/europe-us-data-privacy.html?_r=0

Politico, 13.04.16: Privacy panel trips up transatlantic data deal http://www.politico.eu/article/privacy-panel-trips-up-transatlantic-data-deal/

Politico, 12.04.16: European enforcers not sold on ‘privacy shield’ http://www.politico.eu/article/european-enforcers-not-sold-on-privacy-shield/

Politico, 13.04.16: EU data enforcers demand privacy shield fixes http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-data-protection-authorities-demand-privacy-shield-clarification/

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