COLLEGE MEETING: European Commission adopts adequacy decision on Japan, creating the world’s largest area of safe data flows

[:en]The Commission has adopted today its adequacy decision on Japan, allowing personal data to flow freely between the two economies on the basis of strong protection guarantees.

This is the last step in the procedure launched in September 2018, which included the opinion of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and the agreement from a committee composed of representatives of the EU Member States. Together with its equivalent decision adopted today by Japan, it will start applying as of today. Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality said: “This adequacy decision creates the world’s largest area of safe data flows. Europeans’ data will benefit from high privacy standards when their data is transferred to Japan. Our companies will also benefit from a privileged access to a 127 million consumers’ market. Investing in privacy pays off; this arrangement will serve as an example for future partnerships in this key area and help setting global standards.” The key elements of the adequacy decision, which complements the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, include a set of rules (Supplementary Rules) that will bridge several differences between the two data protection systems, assurances regarding safeguards concerning the access of Japanese public authorities for criminal law enforcement and national security purposes, and a complaint-handling mechanismfor complaints from Europeans regarding access to their data by Japanese public authorities. A press release, a Q&A, a statement as well as a factsheet are available online.[:]