Privacy Shields

Privacy Shield was an agreement between the European Union and the United States designed to protect personal data transferred across the Atlantic. It established standards ensuring U.S. companies handle European citizens' data with strong privacy protections, similar to EU laws. Companies had to self-certify their compliance and agree to oversight. However, Privacy Shield was invalidated by the European Court of Justice in 2020, citing concerns over U.S. government surveillance and insufficient data protection. Its purpose was to facilitate international data flow while safeguarding individuals' privacy rights, but it is no longer considered a valid framework.