The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield has been approved

11. July 2016

On the 8th July 2016, the Vice-President of the EU Commission, Andrus Ansip, and the Commissioner Vera Jourová announced in a joint statement that the EU Member States have approved the updated draft of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield. However, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia abstained from voting.

The statement remarks that the Privacy Shield will ensure a high data protection level for EU citizens, because it imposes stronger obligations for U.S. companies. Specially regarding the bulk collection of personal data from EU citizens by American authorities.

The formal adoption of the Privacy Shield is expected this week.

Although the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield has been approved, the legality of the agreement could be challenged, as occurred with the former Safe Harbor Framework.