Facebook Ireland claims data transfer ruling could cost €143bn

A draft finding by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner that existing EU-US data transfer channels are invalid on grounds of inadequate US legal protections for EU citizens’ privacy rights could, if upheld, cost €143bn a year, Facebook Ireland has told the High Court.

The US government yesterday made an application, unprecedented in Irish courts, to join the huge action by commissioner Helen Dixon aimed at establishing the legality of channels, known as standard contractual clauses, being used for daily EU-US data transfers.

Judge Brian McGovern will rule by the end of July on applications by the US and major Irish, EU and US business and civil liberties organisations, along with data privacy campaigner Kevin Cahill, to join the case as ‘amicus curiae’ (assistant to the court on legal issues).