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 […]
Privacy & Cyber Regulatory Enforcement
FTC seeks public comment on Safeguards Rule and proposed changes
On August 29, 2016, the FTC announced it is seeking public comment on its Safeguards Rule as part of a systematic review of all FTC rules and guides. The Safeguards Rule came into force in 2003 after the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) required that the FTC and other agencies establish administrative, technical, and physical information security […]
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 […]
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 […]