The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield has been adopted by the European Commission. On July 12, 2016, following a positive vote from the member states (the Article 31 Committee) on July 8, the EU College of Commissioners formally adopted the Privacy Shield. The Privacy Shield enters into force immediately in the EU. In the U.S., the Privacy Shield will be published in the Federal Register, becoming effective on August 1.

To learn more about this development, please read the recent Reed Smith Client Alert, "EU-U.S. Data Privacy Shield adopted – a phoenix rising from the ashes of Safe Harbour?" written by Cynthia O'Donoghue, Kate Brimsted, Philip Thomas, Paul Bond, and Gerard M. Stegmaier.

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