Proposal to create a U.S. privacy “ombudsman” to verify Safe Harbor compliance

In a context where the Safe Harbor Decision has been declared invalid and the General Data Protection Regulation has entered into force, the European and American competent authorities are negotiating further mechanisms to carry out international data transfers in compliance with the current legislation.

According to Reuters, the U.S. has proposed creating the institution of the “ombudsman” as a component of the State Department. This institution shall handle with complaints from EU citizens regarding surveillance activities from American authorities,.verify that this surveillance activities are proportionate and that personal data transferred from the EU is accessed only in cases where national security is involved. However, EU negotiators have requested further details about this institution before the proposal is accepted.

Both negotiating parties, EU and U.S. authorities aim at reaching an agreement about the continuity and the legal basis to carry out data transfers to the U.S. by the beginning of February.