Global industry statement in support of a new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework
30 industry associations welcome the recent EU-US announcement of a new TransAtlantic Data Privacy Framework to strengthen data protection, support responsible data transfers, and enable continued transatlantic commerce. We urge the swift finalisation of a Framework that, as stated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, “enables predictable and trustworthy data flows between the EU and US, safeguarding privacy and civil liberties.”
Implementation of a new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework is critical to a constructive transatlantic relationship. As set out in the Annex to this letter, ongoing uncertainty relating to data transfers has significant economic repercussions for EU enterprises, exports, jobs, innovation, and SMEs, and undermines the ability to promote high data protection standards.
EU enterprises in all sectors and of all sizes rely on their ability to transfer data responsibly around the world, even more so today as many have moved their businesses online amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies transfer personal data to send business emails, process payroll and global workforce data, work with suppliers, and serve customers around the world.
However, the central beneficiaries of a new Framework will be EU and US citizens, who will benefit from strengthened personal data protections as new participant companies adopt the privacy controls required by the program, and as new governmental commitments on access to data are implemented.
We again congratulate and urge the European Union and the United States to swiftly bring the new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework into force.