Planned changes to the European Union's Data Protection Directive (EU Directive), some of which are directed at non-EU companies, may significantly impact how U.S.-based entities that interact with EU consumers can collect, store and use consumer data.

In a statement Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, Vice President of the European Commission, advised that the European Commission plans to reveal its proposal for revising the EU Directive by the end of January 2012. Following a meeting with German Federal Minister for Consumer Protection, Ilse Aigner, in Brussels to discuss strengthening the EU's data protection rules, Reding and Aigner issued a joint statement about the proposed revisions - including provisions explicitly requiring compliance from non-EU companies.

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