Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework: Did Transferring Personal Data from the EU to the U.S. Just Get Easier?

By Wim Nauwelaerts
September 01, 2023

On July 10, 2023, the European Commission formally approved the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (DPF) by adopting an "adequacy decision." Adequacy decisions are one of the legal mechanisms under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for transferring personal data from the EU to third countries which, in the eyes of the European Commission, offer sufficient privacy and data protection. The DPF adequacy decision recognizes that, although the United States has a different approach to data protection than the EU, personal data transferred to the U.S. under the DPF is considered to be adequately protected in line with the GDPR's rules on international data transfers. The European Commission takes the position that personal data can flow freely and safely from the EU to U.S. companies that are participating in the new Framework.

Transfers of personal data from the EU to the U.S. have generated much controversy over the past few years. In 2020, the Court of Justice of the EU invalidated the DPF's predecessor, the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield, following a complaint by Austrian privacy activist Maximilian Schrems and his nonprofit organization NOYB — European Center for Digital Rights (known as the Schrems II case). In the Schrems II case, questions were raised about how personal data of EU users of social network Facebook was available to U.S. authorities (e.g., the National Security Agency) in a manner that was considered incompatible with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Court of Justice was particularly concerned that U.S. intelligence agencies could access personal data from EU individuals beyond what is necessary and proportionate and that there was no independent and impartial redress mechanism to handle complaints from EU individuals.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

Judge Rules Shaquille O'Neal Will Face Securities Lawsuit for Promotion, Sale of NFTs Image

A federal district court in Miami, FL, has ruled that former National Basketball Association star Shaquille O'Neal will have to face a lawsuit over his promotion of unregistered securities in the form of cryptocurrency tokens and that he was a "seller" of these unregistered securities.

Why So Many Great Lawyers Stink at Business Development and What Law Firms Are Doing About It Image

Why is it that those who are best skilled at advocating for others are ill-equipped at advocating for their own skills and what to do about it?

A Lawyer's System for Active Reading Image

Active reading comprises many daily tasks lawyers engage in, including highlighting, annotating, note taking, comparing and searching texts. It demands more than flipping or turning pages.

Blockchain Domains: New Developments for Brand Owners Image

Blockchain domain names offer decentralized alternatives to traditional DNS-based domain names, promising enhanced security, privacy and censorship resistance. However, these benefits come with significant challenges, particularly for brand owners seeking to protect their trademarks in these new digital spaces.