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The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) on Friday welcomed Thursday's decision by European Court of Justice (ECJ), which effectively annulled a data sharing arrangement between the European Union (EU) and the United States.
The ECJ ruled that the agreement, known as the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield, failed to offer enough personal data protection for Europeans against U.S. surveillance.
Describing the ruling as a "landmark decision," the EDPS said it reaffirmed the importance of maintaining a high level of protection of personal data transferred from the EU to third countries.
"The EDPS will continue to strive, as a member of the European Data Protection Board, to achieve the necessary coherent approach among the European supervisory authorities in the implementation of the EU framework for international transfers of personal data," the EDPS said in a statement.
This was the second time in almost five years that a European Commission adequacy decision concerning the United States was invalidated by the court.
"European supervisory authorities will advise the Commission on any future adequacy decisions, in line with the interpretation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provided by the court," the statement said.
The EDPS said it trusted that "the United States will deploy all possible efforts and means to move towards a comprehensive data protection and privacy legal framework, which genuinely meets the requirements for adequate safeguards reaffirmed by the court."
European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova commented on Thursday that the ruling confirmed that when personal data travels abroad from Europe, it must remain safe.
"So let me be clear: we will continue our work to ensure the continuity of safe data flows. We will do this in line with (the ECJ) judgment, in full respect of EU law and in line with the fundamental rights of citizens," Jourova said.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
