Fallout of data protection ruling for commissioner ‘uncertain’

Ireland’s Data Protection Minister said it is too early to tell if a landmark European Court of Justice (ECJ) decision will require a further increase in the resources for the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC).

Minister of state Dara Murphy made the comments after a judgment by the ECJ that a system known as Safe Harbour that enabled the transfer of data from the EU to the US is to be disregarded in light of Edward Snowden’s revelations regarding the US surveillance of citizen’s information.

In practical terms, the ECJ ruling means that the head of the DPC, Helen Dixon, may have to investigate more complaints the watchdog receives regarding the transfer of personal information instead of referring to the Safe Harbour agreement.