EU-U.S. approve new data transfer law.

PositionPRIVACY

New rules governing EU-U.S. data sharing went into effect August 1, ending months of sometimes heated negotiations. Europe's top court ruled against the previous Safe Harbor agreement over EU concerns about U.S. surveillance of EU citizens, and this proved a major hurdle during negotiations. As part of the deal, the U.S. government has promised that any access to personal data transferred under the new arrangements made by public authorities on national security grounds will be subject to "clear conditions, limitations, oversight, and preventing generalized access."

The EU and the United States say the new Privacy Shield places stricter obligations on American companies, including Facebook and Google, to protect the personal data of individuals. It requires companies to delete personal data when it no longer serves the original collection purpose and holds third-party processers to the same standards as privacy shield-certified companies, according to media reports.

It also requires:

* Stronger monitoring and enforcement by the U.S. Department of Commerce and Federal Trade Commission, including increased cooperation with European authorities

* An annual joint review of the pact

* The appointment of an ombudsman based at the U.S. State Department, responsible for following up on European complaints of data misuse

According...

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