EU and US agree on new data-sharing regulations

New rules governing transatlantic data transfers have been formally approved, months after Europe’s top court ruled against the previous arrangements amid concerns over surveillance activity by US intelligence agencies.

The EU and the US said the new Privacy Shield imposes stricter obligations on American companies, including the likes of Facebook and Apple, to safeguard the personal data of individuals, from health matters through to social media activities.

Critics argue that the new framework does not go far enough, and are concerned that the consumer protections are not sufficiently strong. They also warn that the possibility of blanket surveillance from US agencies remains.