EU, US Find Common Ground On Data Transfer Pact

Changes to strengthen the data transfer pact between the European Union and the U.S. were agreed upon late last week.

Not only is the pact key to transatlantic business, but also it will include stricter rules for companies that maintain information on Europeans and propose clear limits on U.S. surveillance, Reuters reported on Friday (June 24).

A vote on the revised EU-U.S. Privacy Shield is expected to take place next month, EU sources told Reuters, after which it officially go into action.

According to those sources, the U.S. has provided further explanation of the specific conditions where the country’s intelligence services may be required to collect data in bulk and how that data would be safely used.

An example of this was provided in a letter, which was seen by Reuters, from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that points to a situation where the U.S. could be seeking information about a terrorist group that may be plotting attack on Europe.

If the U.S. did not have access to certain information, it would then proceed to collect communications taking place inside and outside of the Middle East “for further review and analysis to identify those communications that relate to the group,” the letter explained.

“Thus, even when targeting through the use of specific selectors is not possible, the United States does not collect all communications from all communications facilities in the world,” it continued.