Third annual review of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield: Joint Statement by Commissioner Jourová and Secretary Ross

The third annual review of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework is taking place on 12 and 13 September in Washington DC. In a joint statement, Commissioner for Justice Vera Jourová and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, said: “Privacy Shield ensures that participating companies and relevant government authorities provide a high level of protection for the personal data of EU individuals.  Since the Framework’s implementation on 1 August 2016, more than 5,000 companies have made public and legally enforceable pledges to protect data transferred from the EU in accordance with the Privacy Shield Principles. The rapid and continued growth of the program demonstrates Privacy Shield’s vital role in protecting personal data and contributing to the $7.1 trillion [€6.3 trillion] economic relationship between the United States and Europe.” Conducted by senior officials from the United States government, the European Commission and EU data protection authorities, the review focused on all aspects of the functioning of the Shield, including its practical application and the effectiveness of the framework. Participants also assessed how compliance with the rules of the Privacy Shield is being monitored and enforced. Following the review, the Commission will analyse the findings and publish its assessment in a report. The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield protects personal data transferred from the EU to the U.S. for commercial purposes. As agreed at the time of its launch, the EU-US Privacy Shield is reviewed on a yearly basis to assess that it continues to ensure an adequate level of protection of personal data.