Recent cases have highlighted the continued tensions between the GDPR and U.S. demands for discovery in the context of U.S. litigation and investigations. This issue can present a real concern for companies operating on both sides of the pond seeking to comply with obligations on either side. Whilst the GDPR provides EU citizens with valuable … Continue Reading
On 18 March, the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom (UKTF) of the European Commission published its Draft Text of the Agreement on the New Partnership with the United Kingdom (Draft Agreement). It translates the negotiating directives, approved by Member States, into a legal text, in line with the Political Declaration agreed between … Continue Reading
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have each issued no-deal Brexit data protection guidance. EU/UK personal data transfers The UK government has committed to incorporating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) into domestic UK law when the UK leaves the EU. This means there will not … Continue Reading
On 28 November 2017, the Article 29 Working Party (‘WP29’) published a working document updating its previous guidance on transfers of personal data to third countries (WP12), (‘WP29 Document’). WP29 has reviewed its earlier guidance in the context of the General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’) and recent case law of the European Court of Justice … Continue Reading
The Article 29 Working Party (WP29) has published updated guidelines on Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) to reflect the requirements set out in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The two documents, which replace previous WP29 working papers (WP 153 and WP 195) and remain open for public consultation until January 17, 2018, are: (i) Working … Continue Reading
Following our previous blog on the upcoming first annual review of the EU-US Privacy Shield, the European Commission (“Commission”) published its report on 18 October 2017 (“Report”). The Commission’s Findings Overall, the Report confirms that the Privacy Shield continues to ensure an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred from the EU to participating … Continue Reading
The UK Government has published a position paper (“the Paper”), which will form part of a series of papers setting out key issues forming the Government’s vision for their partnership with the EU post-Brexit. The Paper explains how it intends to resolve the much-debated issue of UK-EU data transfers post-Brexit. This issue is a real … Continue Reading
During the week of 18 September 2017, the European Commission and the Article 29 Working Party (“WP29”) will undertake the first annual review of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield (“Privacy Shield”). The meetings will take place in the United States. As for the U.S. side, the U.S. Department of Commerce will conduct the review, and it … Continue Reading
The House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee (“the Committee”) has published a report on the EU Data Protection Package and the impact of Brexit (“the Report”). The Report considers the implications of the UK’s exit from the EU for cross-border data transfers, and for UK data protection policy more generally. The Report looks at … Continue Reading
In the Opinion 1/15 of 26 July 2017 (“Opinion”), the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) held that the proposed agreement between the EU and Canada on the transfer and processing of Passenger Name Record (“PNR”) data may not be concluded in its current form. The Opinion is available here. The CJEU said that … Continue Reading
The House of Commons Library, which aims to provide impartial research and analysis to MPs and their staff, has published a briefing paper on the impact of Brexit on data protection law in the UK (“the Paper”). The Paper summarises the background to EU data protection law and notes that inconsistent implementation of the Data … Continue Reading
As part of its GDPR Implementation Project, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (‘CIPL’) has released a discussion paper on certifications, seals and marks. The paper stresses the benefits of certifications that can be adapted to different companies and contexts, all while retaining common cross-border baselines. As no such measure is currently in place ahead … Continue Reading
Google has announced that the EU data protection authorities have reviewed and confirmed its Google Cloud services’ contractual commitments as fully compliant with the EU requirements for transferring personal data to third countries outside the European Economic Area (“EEA”). Model contract clauses The review was carried out in line with Working Paper 226 (‘WP 226’). … Continue Reading
The Interim Deputy Commissioner at the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”), Steve Wood, has published a blog reminding organisations of their obligations when transferring personal data to the United States, pursuant to the case brought by Max Schrems in 2015, which led to the Safe Harbor framework being declared immediately invalid. Wood reminds organisations that continued … Continue Reading
On 26 July, the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party (WP29) released a statement outlining its opinion on the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield, which was adopted by the European Commission earlier this month. After praising the improvements implemented by the Commission and U.S. authorities since its last critical opinion, the WP29 outlined some remaining concerns, including … Continue Reading
Following a positive vote from the Article 31 Committee on 8 July, the EU-US Privacy Shield was formally adopted on 12 July and will enter immediately into force in the EU. In the U.S. the Privacy Shield will be published in the Federal Register, becoming effective on 1 August and will be operated by the … Continue Reading
The EU-U.S. data protection Umbrella Agreement consists of a framework of principles and safeguards for trans-Atlantic transfers of personal data (such as criminal records, names and addresses) in relation to the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of criminal offences, including terrorism. The agreement seeks to satisfy two core objectives: first, to ensure a high level … Continue Reading
On 3 February, the Article 29 Working Party (‘WP29’), a group comprising representatives of the EU Member States’ Data Protection Authorities (‘DPAs’), issued a statement cautiously welcoming the agreement on an “EU-U.S. Privacy Shield”. If it is formally adopted, the Privacy Shield will replace the Safe Harbor agreement that was declared invalid by the EU’s … Continue Reading
The Polish Parliament passed the Facilitation of Business Activity Act (source in Polish) which significantly amends the existing Act on Personal Data Protection. The amendments come into force 1 January 2015. The changes mean that the EU Commission’s approved Standard Contractual Clauses for data transfers (“SCCs”) and approved Binding Corporate Rules (“BCRs”) are automatically recognised … Continue Reading
Incoming president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has radically transformed the EU executive to help him pursue his vision for the next five years. Juncker seeks to make the EU “an area of justice and fundamental rights based on mutual trust,” and has led to him calling for the “conclusion of negotiations on the … Continue Reading
A draft of Poland’s new draft data protection law has been released and has the potential to significantly change the rules in Poland governing international data transfers and data privacy officers. Under existing rules, Poland is an EU member state that does not currently recognise the Standard Contractual Clauses or Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) as … Continue Reading
Belgium has issued a new protocol to facilitate the approval process for transfers of personal data outside the EU. Italy issued new regulations governing direct marketing, and the Slovak Republic has introduced a new data protection act—a busy few months! Belgium’s new protocol on data transfers was issued on the 25th of June by the … Continue Reading
As part of an on-going debate on the European data protection reform, doubts were cast over the adequacy of the Safe Harbor arrangements with the United States. Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, called the 13-year-old data-sharing agreement between the EU and the United States a potential “loophole for data … Continue Reading
The European Union (EU) data protection body, the Article 29 Working Party (A29WP), in April adopted new guidance on Binding Corporate Rules for Processors (BCPRs). The document supplements the opinion from June 2012, which listed elements required for valid BCPRs, by further clarifying what provisions and mechanisms must be included before BCPRs can be authorised. … Continue Reading
