Schrems II Decision

The Schrems II decision, made by the European Court of Justice in July 2020, invalidated the Privacy Shield agreement between the EU and the U.S., which allowed companies to transfer personal data across the Atlantic. The court ruled that U.S. laws did not provide adequate protection for EU citizens' data privacy, particularly regarding government surveillance. This decision reinforced the importance of strong data protection standards and has significant implications for businesses operating internationally, as they must now ensure they have legally sound mechanisms for transferring personal data outside the EU.