Press Release: EU Commission and United States agree on new framework for transatlantic data flows: EU-US Privacy Shield

On 2 February 2016 the European Commission and the United States agreed on a new framework for transatlantic data flows: the EU-US Privacy Shield.

The new arrangement included the following elements: strong obligations on companies handling Europeans' personal data and robust enforcement, clear safeguards and transparency obligations on U.S. government access, effective protection of EU citizens' rights with several redress possibilities.

A number of commentators suggested that how the Privacy Shield would work in practice was not clear and that a legal challenge in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) was likely.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Commissioner Jourová's remarks on the state of play of the Safe Harbour negotiations before the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (Libe) http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-commissioner-jourovas-remarks-on-the-state-of-play-of-the-safe-harbour-negotiations-before-the-committee-on-civil-liberties-justice-and-home-affairs-libe/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/16/221, 02.02.16: Speaking points by Justice Commissioner Jourová at the press conference on the new framework for transatlantic data flows: the EU-US Privacy Shield http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-221_en.htm

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/16/218, 02.02.16: Speaking points by European Commission Vice-President Ansip, in charge of the Digital Single Market, at the press conference on the new framework for transatlantic data flows: the EU-US Privacy Shield http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-218_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Judgment in Case C-362/14 Maximillian Schrems v Data Protection Commissioner http://www.europeansources.info/record/judgment-in-case-c-362-14-maximillian-schrems-v-data-protection-commissioner/

EurActiv, 03.02.16: Commission replaces Safe Harbour with rebranded 'privacy shield' http://www.euractiv.com/sections/digital/commission-replaces-safe-harbour-rebranded-privacy-shield-321527

EUObserver, 02.02.16: EU and US agree data 'Privacy Shield' https://euobserver.com/justice/132109

The Guardian, 02.02.16: 'Robust' deal reached to preserve privacy of EU-US data sharing http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/02/robust-deal-reached-to-preserve-privacy-of-eu-us-data-sharing

Sputnik International, 03.02.16: EU-US Privacy Shield Agreement to Boost Digital Economy - Commerce Dep't http://sptnkne.ws/a8xe

Irish Independent, 02.02.16: [Opinion] Adrian Weckler: Safe Harbour becomes Privacy Shield, but is it trustworthy? http://www.independent.ie/business/technology/adrian-weckler-safe-harbour-becomes-privacy-shield-but-is-it-trustworthy-34418430.html

Deutsche Welle, 02.02.16: EU, US agree on 'Privacy Shield' to protect data transfers http://dw.com/p/1HoFU

The New York Times, 02.02.16: U.S. and Europe in ‘Safe Harbor’ Data Deal, but Legal Fight May Await http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/03/technology/us-europe-safe-harbor-data-deal.html

Washington Post, 02.02.16: The massive new privacy deal between U.S. and Europe, explained https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/02/02/the-massive-new-privacy-deal-between-u-s-and-europe-explained/

BBC News, 02.02.16: EU and US clinch data-transfer deal to replace Safe Harbour http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35471851

Norton Rose Fullbright: Regulatory Response: Data Protection: EU and US reach agreement on cross-border data transfer framework, but uncertainty remains http://www.dataprotectionreport.com/2016/02/2809/

BBC News, 03.02.16: New EU-US data pact: What is the the Privacy Shield? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35480880

Politico, 02.02.16: Safe harbor deal divides opinion http://www.politico.eu/article/political-handshake-on-safe-harbor-deal/

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 03.02.16: Live. Die. Repeat. The ‘Privacy Shield’ deal as ‘Groundhog Day’: endlessly making the same mistakes? http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/live-die-repeat-privacy-shield-deal-as.html

US: Department of State: US Mission to the European Union: Political, Security & Global Issues: Data Privacy and Protection: Press Release, 02.02.16: Statement From U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on EU-U.S. Privacy Shield https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2016/02/statement-us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-eu-us-privacy-shield

US Mission to the EU: Political, Security & Global Issues: Data Privacy and Protection http://useu.usmission.gov/data_privacy.html

EUObserver, 03.02.16: The EU-US data deal that isn't https://euobserver.com/justice/132123

EurActiv, 04.02.16: EU watchdog Falque-Pierrotin: 'We can't just accept words' on privacy shield http://www.euractiv.com/sections/digital/eu-watchdog-falque-pierrotin-we-cant-just-accept-words-privacy-shield-321572

Euro|Topics: Debates, 04.02.16: EU and US agree new data protection rules http://www.eurotopics.net/en/153141/eu-and-us-agree-new-data-protection-rules

Politico, 08.02.16: The phone call that saved safe harbor http://www.politico.eu/article/the-phone-call-that-saved-safe-harbor-john-kerry-frans-timmermans/

FTI Consulting, 05.02.16: The (un)certain future of transatlantic data flows https://thewonk.eu/reports/the-uncertain-future-of-transatlantic-data-flows__rd1163.html

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