High Level Contact Group talks about EU-US personal data issues

By EDRi · March 12, 2008

(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar)

According to a document revealed by Statewatch, the EU and US are
negotiating the data protection principles for which common language has
been developed. The Group has as purpose to draft a proposal that should
deal with the personal data protection in any future EU-US agreements that
will deal with this topic.

In November 2007 Paul Rosenzweig, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at
the US DHS said, on the EU requirement, that data could only be passed to
third states whose laws passed the “adequacy” test guaranteeing equivalent
rights:

“The EU should reconsider its decision to apply notions of adequacy to the
critical area of law enforcement and public safety. Otherwise the EU runs
the very real risk of turning itself into a self-imposed island, isolated
from the very allies it needs” (Privacy and Security Law).

He is also opposed to the EU’s draft Framework Decision on data protection
in police and criminal matters (covering the exchange of personal data
within the EU):
“The draft seeks to apply the same tired, failed standards of adequacy that
it has applied in its commercial laws.”

Data Protection principles for which common language has been developed
(03.2008)
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2008/mar/eu-us-dp-principles.pdf