Effective Thursday, July 16, 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union invalidated the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield.

This will have implications for some karmaSpeaker users.

On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know about what this verdict means to you and what you need to do next.

What is the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield?

The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield is a system for complying with EU data protection requirements when transferring personal data from the European Economic Area (EEA) to the U.S.

It’s used by over 5,000 companies as a legal basis to transfer personal data from the EU to the U.S. 

Why Was It Invalidated?

Enacted in 2016, the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield has served as a seal of approval for data protection and compliance for organizations sending data from EEA residents to the United States. 

Under the Shield, organizations can self-certify with the U.S. Department of Commerce to commit to the Privacy Shield’s 7 Principles. 

But on July 16, 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the Privacy Shield did not provide adequate protection for the personal data of EU citizens and that it doesn’t guarantee the same broad privacy rights that EU residents have under the General Data Protection Regulation.

What Does This Verdict Mean for karmaSpeaker? 

This verdict from the Court of Justice of the European Union means that any companies that transfer personal data from the EU to the United States must find alternative protection measures and mechanisms recognized by the GDPR to appropriately safeguard personal data.

And with no grace period currently allowed, investigations into this matter can begin immediately and can result in fines or other punitive action in the event of noncompliance.

What Does This Verdict Mean for You? 

This verdict will only impact karmaSpeaker users operating internationally. If you operate outside of the United States, you will now be required to abide by the privacy laws of the European Union.

If you operate exclusively within the United States, this new verdict will not impact you. 

What karmaSpeaker Users Need to Do Now

If the invalidation of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield impacts your business, please click below to sign our disclosure document to indicate your understanding of the situation. 

If you have questions about this verdict or what it means for you and your business, get in touch with our support team

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