On Tuesday, October 11, 2016, the D.C. Circuit Court issued its opinion in PHH Corp. v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, holding that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was unconstitutionally structured. In the majority opinion, Judge Kavanaugh described the position of CFPB Director as, in terms of unilateral authority, “the single most powerful official in […]
Enforcement
Austrian Supreme Court Refers Schrems Consumer Class Action to ECJ
Just under a year ago today, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued its Schrems decision, which invalidated Safe Harbor and led to substantial developments in US-EU data-transfer mechanisms. In parallel to the ECJ Safe Harbor litigation, Mr. Schrems has maintained two further legal proceedings in the EU: (1) a challenge in the Irish courts […]
German DPAs to Create Model Processing Records for GDPR Compliance
On May 25, 2018, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) enters into force. One of the major changes the GDPR introduces is a duty for in-scope controllers and processors to maintain written records of processing activities. Under Article 30 GDPR, companies will need to inventory all “processing activities under [their] responsibility” and memorialize them […]
FTC Overrules LabMD Dismissal, Finds Unfair Data Security Practices
The FTC issued an Opinion and Final Order reversing the previously dismissed charges against LabMD on July 29. FTC Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) D. Michael Chappell had dismissed the case against LabMD on November 13, 2015 based on an insufficient showing of harm, as required to find an act or practice unfair under § 5 […]
German DPAs Will Not Be Able to Challenge Privacy Shield this Year
Even before the ECJ’s Schrems decision invalidated Safe Harbor, the European Commission had begun working closely with US negotiators to craft what has become the U.S.-EU Privacy Shield. While EU privacy leaders have noted that Privacy Shield represents important improvements in data protection, some German DPAs have voiced a desire to challenge Privacy Shield in […]