ARTICLE · 15 APRIL 2021

Brexit Deal & Data Transfers: A Temporary Relief

Simont Braun

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Amongst the (many) uncertainties linked to Brexit, its potential restrictive impact on data transfers between the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK was an important one for all businesses with cross-border activities.

European UnionPrivacy

Joan Carette

Philippe De Prez

Jean-Christophe Vercauteren

Amongst the (many) uncertainties linked to Brexit, its potential restrictive impact on data transfers between the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK was an important one for all businesses with cross-border activities.

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (the Brexit deal) adopted last December has brought a temporary answer to it. It allows EEA firms to continue transferring personal data to the UK under the same rules as before Brexit, and this, for a period of four months (extendable to six months) known as the "Bridge".

THE CONTEXT

As a result of Brexit, UK has officially left the European Union since 1 January 2021.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), data transfers outside the EEA are only allowed if:

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