EU-U.S. Privacy Shield: Companies Can Now Certify

As of, August 1^st, 2016, U.S. companies can now join the Safe Harbor successor EU-U.S. Privacy Shield (the "Privacy Shield") for personal data transfers from the EU to the U.S.

This post gives a high level summary of what companies should consider with the Privacy Shield.

Background:

On July 12, 2016, the European Commission (the "Commission") formally adopted the adequacy decision necessary to implement the Privacy Shield. This means that transfers of personal data from the EU to the U.S. that are made pursuant to the Privacy Shield's requirements are lawful under EU law.  The Privacy Shield replaces the EU-U.S. Safe Harbor Framework, which was invalidated by the Court of Justice of the European Union ("CJEU") on October 6, 2015.