EU-US Consumer Alliance Urges EC To Reject Privacy Shield Until Changes Made

The European Commission should reject the trans-Atlantic data transfer proposal since it doesn't adequately protect people's fundamental privacy and data protection rights, urged Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue, (TACD), a forum of 78 U.S. and EU consumer organizations, Thursday. In a resolution, the group said "Privacy Shield does not provide the necessary basis for a decision that the U.S. offers effective and meaningful data protection." The lack of an overarching U.S. data protection law means privacy of its own consumers "creates a barrier to any serious consideration on adequacy," said TACD, which counts the Center for Digital Democracy, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse among 26 U.S. members. The proposed Privacy Shield agreed to in February is expected to be legally challenged once the EC approves it (see 1602290003). The national data protection authorities and EU member states will comment on the proposal (see 1602100026) before it can be adopted (see 1604050065). In its resolution, TACD recommended that the EU delay proposal's adoption until the U.S. guarantees data protection that's essentially equivalent to the level in Europe, publish a detailed legal review of Privacy Shield, enforce current rules to stop unlawful information transfers to the U.S, and approve the proposed General Data Protection Regulation without delay (see 1512160001). TACD also urged the U.S. to approve a comprehensive privacy and data protection framework, support strong encryption, end mass surveillance, give rulemaking authority to the FTC to adopt privacy and data marketing and collection safeguards and update the 1974 Privacy Act of 1974. TACD also wants authorities on both sides to hold an annual and open privacy summit to improve the level of data protection.