EPIC - European Institutions Conclude Data Protection Reform

The EU Commission, Parliament and Council reached an agreement on a comprehensive new privacy law after four years of negotiation. The General Data Protection Regulation establishes common privacy rules across Europe and creates strong enforcement power. The law will be fully applicable in about two years. The new law is a "major step forward for consumer protection and competition," said Jan Philip Albrecht. Sophie In’t Veld said, "The EU will now have the most extensive data protection laws in the world and will set global standards." EPIC, and many consumer privacy organization have urged the US to modernize domestic privacy law. EPIC President Marc Rotenberg told USA Today, "The U.S. will need to update privacy laws to safeguard U.S. consumers and maintain trade relations with Europe."