Perspectives on Europe

The EU Commission, Parliament, and Council of Ministers recently reached an agreement on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Multinational businesses and EU member states are currently making ad hoc decisions to regulate data transfer to the US. To address the chaos, several EU data protection authorities have issued new guidance.

The Federal Trade Commission has lost an important mechanism for privacy and data security enforcement in data flowing across the Atlantic with the invalidation of the Safe Harbor framework, according to Commissioner Julie Brill.

California passed Assembly Bill 60 (AB60) which allows the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a driver’s license to any person, which could include an undocumented person, who cannot establish their legal presence in the US but otherwise meets licensing requirements to drive a motor vehicle.

The EU’s top court could rule the Safe Harbor framework is ineffective to allow data to flow across the Atlantic and as companies await the Oct. 6 decision, they should consider other options for transfer of data from the EU to the US.

Last week, the US Department of Justice in New York unsealed a 47-count indictment against 14 defendants and at the same time numerous FIFA officials and other persons were arrested as they gathered for annual FIFA meeting in Zurich.

Iran and the United States, along with Russia, China, France, the UK, and Germany announced that they have reached an agreement on the key parameters for a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding the Iran nuclear program in exchange for the termination of certain sanctions.

Apple Inc. and other leading technology companies have reached an agreement with the European Union (EU) regarding their use of the word “free” in relation to mobile applications. The EU alleged that the companies were labeling apps as “free” in contexts that were likely to mislead consumers.

European Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) — the entities responsible for enforcing the European Union (EU) Data Directive and the EU Cookie Directive — are taking part in what is being referred to as “Cookie Sweep Day.”

Overcoming the challenges of fighting organized crime networks involved in industrial scale illicit trade and counterfeiting, international partnerships recently led to 6,000 arrests and the seizure of 24 million fake goods worth nearly $133 million US dollars.

Arent Fox White Collar Partner Michelle Shapiro (Arroyo) is leading an interactive half-day FCPA boot camp at ACI’s 21st New York Conference.