The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield (“Privacy Shield”) is already under challenge before the European courts, after having been approved only some months ago by the European Commission (“EU Commission”). The European courts’ website records that an action for annulment has been brought by Digital Rights Ireland, the privacy and digital rights advocacy organization, before the General […]
European Privacy & Cybersecurity
The French Digital Republic Act: the New Powers of the French Data Protection Authority and Enhanced Rights of Individuals
On October 7, the French Digital Republic Act (the “Act”) was adopted following a widely-publicized consultation process. The Act amends the French Data Protection Act, and also modifies French law in various domains, including consumer protection, electronic payment services, medical research, and intellectual property. The Act constitutes a first step in the implementation of the […]
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 […]
Department of Commerce Announces First Privacy Shield Participants
Over the weekend, the Department of Commerce’s Privacy Shield website was updated to show the first participants in the U.S.-EU Privacy Shield. In total, about 45 companies have registered for Privacy Shield. Prominent examples include Microsoft Corp. (along with 20 subsidiaries), Salesforce, and corporate-travel giant World Travel, Inc. Companies with questions about Privacy Shield are […]
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 […]