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EU vows to continue transatlantic data flows without "Safe Harbour"

Xinhua, October 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European Commission Tuesday said it will continue to work towards a renewed and safe framework for the transfer of personal data across the Atlantic after top European Union (EU) court ruled the "Safe Harbour" agreement was invalid.

The European Court of Justice has ruled earlier the same day that the transatlantic data-sharing deal -- "Safe Harbour" agreement which allows American tech companies such as Facebook to transfer users' data from the EU to the United States is invalid.

"The Court of Justice declares that the (European) Commission's US Safe Harbour Decision is invalid," it said in a decision on a case brought against Facebook by Austrian law student Max Schrems.

Following the court's decision, first Vice-President of the European Commission Timmermans said the continuation of transatlantic data flows is important for EU's economy, calling on the companies to continue using other mechanisms for international transfers of personal data available under EU data protection law.

Meanwhile, the vice-president pledged to hand out a clear guidance for national data protection authorities on how to deal with data transfer requests to the U.S., in the light of the ruling in the next weeks.

"The European commission remains fully committed to data transfers across the Atlantic whilst ensuring robust data protection safeguards for citizens and legal clarity for businesses," said European commissioner Vera Jourova, who is in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality.

"It is important that transatlantic data flows can continue, as they are the backbone of our economy," she added.

When asked how data flows can continue without the Safe Harbour in the meantime, the commissioner mentioned several other mechanisms, for instance, through standard data protection clauses in contracts between companies exchanging data across the Atlantic, or binding corporate rules for transfers within a corporate group.

She said the European Commission is seeking to offer assistance and help to business on how to facilitate data transfers in light of the judgement. Enditem