EU-U.S. Privacy Shield operational since August, 1st

The EU Commission announced yesterday the full operability of the agreed EU-U.S. Privacy Shield as substitute of the former Safe Harbor Framework. The Department of Commerce will verify the privacy policies of the U.S. Companies that sign up the Privacy Shield in order to ensure that they comply with the standards agreed on the new framework.

Furthermore, the EU Commission has also published a citizen’s guide regarding how their rights will be ensured and how to address complaints if they consider that their rights have not been respected. Amongst others, EU citizens have the right to access the data an organization holds about them, to correct their data if this is inaccurate or incorrect, to have access to the different dispute resolution mechanisms, etc.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker also made a statement regarding the launch of the new framework: “After more than two years of discussions, it is time to implement the new EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework with our partners in Europe and companies on both continents. With the Privacy Shield in place, businesses will be able to protect privacy and truly seize the opportunities offered by the transatlantic digital economy. More than $260 billion in digital services trade is already conducted across the Atlantic Ocean annually, but there is significant potential for this figure to grow, resulting in a stronger economy and job creation. The Privacy Shield opens a new era in data privacy that will deliver concrete and practical results for our citizens and businesses.”