Trump's actions to dismantle PCLOB threatens EU-US data transfers

27/01/2025 | NOYB

A blog article by the Austrian privacy and digital rights advocacy group NOYB on Thursday highlights the potential impact on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF) following the decision by the Trump administration to inform three members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) to resign or be fired. According to The New York Times and NOYB, the move would, in effect, stop the independent body from functioning as it would reduce the number of appointed Members to below the threshold required for the PCLOB to operate and bring into question the independence of other executive redress bodies in the US.

As NOYB highlights, the EU relies on these redress bodies to ensure the US provides "adequate" protection of personal data transferred from the EU. However, NOYB goes on to say that while EU-US data transfers remain legal for now, be prepared for things to change. 

In a statement, Lawyer and NOYB honorary chair Max Schrems said: "While the arguments for the EU-US deal seem to fall apart, companies can rely on the deal as long as it is not formally annulled. However, given the developments in the US, it is more crucial than ever for any business or other organisation to have a 'host in Europe' contingency plan."

In an update on Monday, 27 January 2025, the US Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board spokesman Alan Silverleib confirmed that the Trump administration had terminated the services of the Democratic board members, effective 23 January. 

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