Jan Dhont

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On February 2, 2022, the UK privacy regulator (i.e., the Information Commissioner’s Office or the ICO) issued new model clauses to support data transfers from the UK. Subject to approval by the UK Parliament, the new model clauses will become effective March 21, 2022. Companies transferring personal data outside the UK will have until March 21, 2024 to update existing contracts, but should use the new model clauses for any new contracts they sign as of September 21, 2022.

Background
Continue Reading New Model Clauses for Personal Data Transfers Outside the UK

On November 10, 2021, the UK Supreme Court ruled[1] that class representatives in data privacy class action suits need to prove damage or distress suffered to be successful. Compensation cannot be granted simply by virtue of proving that a company violated the law. The case was heard under the UK’s pre-2018 data protection law, but the UK GDPR arguably does not change the essence of the Court’s ruling.[2]
Continue Reading Lloyd v. Google: UK Supreme Court Rejects Data Protection Class Action in Landmark Ruling

They State That Direct Collection of Personal Data by Non-EU Companies Is Not a “Data Transfer” Under the GDPR

On November 18, 2021, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) issued guidelines (Guidelines) that—for the first time—clarify the notion of “data transfer.” Departing from common understanding, the EDPB has determined that there is no data transfer where EU data subjects disclose on their own initiative personal data directly to a non-EU company. Consequently, there is no need to implement a transfer tool in such situations. The Guidelines are open to public consultation until the end of January 2022.
Continue Reading EU Regulators Define Data Transfers

On October 13, 2021, the French data protection authority (the CNIL) issued a short note (the “Note,” in French) on technologies such as fingerprinting, unique identifiers, and cohort-targeting, developed to replace traditional third-party cookies.

While the CNIL acknowledges that some of these technologies are less privacy invasive than third-party cookies, it stresses that the consent and transparency requirements also apply to these technologies.
Continue Reading CNIL Issues Guidance on Alternatives to Third-Party Cookies

On June 15, 2021, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) confirmed[1] that non-leading supervisory authorities (SAs) can initiate national judicial proceedings concerning cross-border data processing in two circumstances:[2] i) where there is an “urgent need” to act, or ii) if the case has a local impact.
Continue Reading CJEU Confirms Exceptions to One-Stop-Shop Mechanism Under the GDPR

On May 20, 2021, the Belgian Supervisory Authority (Belgian SA) approved the EU Cloud Code of Conduct (EU Cloud CoC).[1] This is the first time that a Supervisory Authority has approved a transnational, industry-wide code of conduct under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).[2] Cloud service providers (CSPs) will be able to rely on their adherence to the code to demonstrate compliance with the GDPR as a data processor. Although the EU Cloud CoC does not yet qualify as an appropriate safeguard for international data transfers, a separate module is currently under discussion and should, when adopted, accommodate such transfers.
Continue Reading Belgian DPA Approves Code of Conduct for the Cloud Industry

On June 4, 2021, the European Commission published its long awaited new set of Standard Contractual Clauses for outsourced data processing (DPA SCCs). These DPA SCCs are a contract template that organizations can use to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation’s (GDPR) rules on outsourced data processing.
Continue Reading EU Commission Publishes Template Data Processing Agreement