The European Parliament’s Pilar del Castillo led a February 17, 2016 breakfast debate on the economic and trade impacts of data flows.  The event was organized under the auspices of the European Internet Forum with SIIA serving as the industry lead organizer.   The speakers emphasized the following elements in the data flow debate.   Data flows matter to what might be considered traditional industrial enterprises as much as they matter to “technology” sector companies.  The EU has offensive digital trade goals – the recently concluded EU-U.S. Privacy Shield might make it easier for the Commission to pursue those goals in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) negotiations.  Common cooperative regulatory mechanisms need to be created in order ensure that data flows can continue to underpin global value chains (GVCs).  Europe-wide initiatives such as the Single Paymen ...

Today, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) joined other groups in commending progress on U.S. – EU Safe Harbor negotiations.

national security, safe harbor, schrems,  more

When the European Court of Justice (ECJ) invalidated the U.S. – EU Safe Harbor Framework last week, SIIA released a press statement calling for a managed transition and a rapid completion of negotiations on a new, modernized Safe Harbor as the ruling was a blow to transatlantic data flows.  Additionally, at a joint panel event between SIIA and DIGITALEUROPE in Geneva last week, panelists discussed outcomes, concerns, and next steps over the ruling. SIIA welcomes the bi-partisan and bi-cameral intervention by the leaders of the House and Senate Commerce Committees.  Their letter urges the Secretary of Commerce and the Chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission to ease concerns from the business community on the legal uncertainty created by the ECJ decision:

Today, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) and DIGITALEUROPE hosted a panel for Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) negotiators. The discussion focused on: “Cross-Border Data Flows and Compliance with National Data Protection Laws.”

Yesterday, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) handed down its decision on the Schrems Case, a lawsuit against Facebook regarding data privacy.  The court’s decision determined that the U.S. – EU Safe Harbor Agreement is invalid.  This decision will create legal uncertainty for over 4,400 companies in the Safe Harbor as they may no longer use the Safe Harbor as a basis for transferring data between the United States and the European Union.  Upon news of the decision, SIIA issued its comments to voice deep concern about its effects on data flows and digital trade.

Yesterday, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) handed down its decision on the Schrems Case, a lawsuit against Facebook regarding data privacy.  The court’s decision determined that the U.S. – EU Safe Harbor Agreement is invalid.  This decision will create legal uncertainty for over 4,400 companies in the Safe Harbor as they may no longer use the Safe Harbor as a basis for transferring data between the United States and the European Union.  Upon news of the decision, SIIA issued its comments to voice deep concern about its effects on data flows and digital trade.

I spoke on July 2 in Berlin at a conference organized by the German Standards Agency (DIN) on “Data protection in the EU and Germany – Impediment or basis of our digital future.”  SIIA was one of the sponsors of this important event.  DIN put together a terrific program with a good blend of proponents of European data protection approaches and perspectives from industries in the forefront of data-driven innovation.

NTIA Seeks Comment on “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights”

NTIA Relinquishing Hold Over Management of the Internet