Google Agrees To Privacy Shield Framwork

Google has now officially signed up to the European Commission’s Privacy Shield data framework, the effective replacement of the EU-US Safe Harbour deal that was in place since 2000.

Privacy Shield became active in July, with companies like Salesforce and Microsoft already signing up to ensure the protection of the data of their customers when it is being transferred from Europe to the United States.

“Google has committed to applying the Privacy Shield’s principles and safeguards to EU-U.S. transfers of personal data,” said the company in a blog post.

New standards

“Following the agreement, we will ensure that our products and services meet the new standards of the Privacy Shield.

“And, building on our work with Europe’s Data Protection Authorities over the last few years, we’re also choosing to co-operate with Europe’s Data Protection Authorities on EU-US Privacy Shield inquiries.”

The European Commission adopted the EU US Privacy Shield framework back in July, introducing measures that should ensure the protection of EU citizen data in its transfer to the United States.

“We have approved the new EU-US Privacy Shield today. It will protect the personal data of our people and provide clarity for businesses,” said the European Commission’s Digital Single Market vice president, Andrus Ansip.

“We have worked hard with all our partners in Europe and in the US to get this deal right and to have it done as soon as possible. Data flows between our two continents are essential to our society and economy – we now have a robust framework ensuring these transfers take place in the best and safest conditions”.

The official adoption came after months of debate, culminating in European Union member states giving the framework the go ahead on July 8.

Known as Safe Harbour 2.0, the reworked Privacy Shield framework is designed to help firms on both sides of the Atlantic to move the personal data of European citizens to the United States without breaking strict EU data transfer rules. The deal had to be amended multiple times, as member states concluded original plans were not strict enough.

But the Commission has said the agreed framework is now robust enough to protect the data of European citizens.

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