Safe Harbor (privacy framework)

Safe Harbor was an agreement that allowed US companies to process personal data of European consumers while respecting their privacy standards. It set strict standards for data protection, and companies had to certify they complied with these rules. Essentially, it provided a legal framework to ensure data transferred across borders would be handled responsibly, balancing business needs and privacy rights. However, the Safe Harbor framework was invalidated in 2015, leading to the development of new agreements like Privacy Shield, to maintain cross-border data flow while protecting individuals’ privacy.