The End of Safe Harbor -

In a decision that could significantly impact those doing business in the United States and Europe, the European Union's highest court ruled on October 6, 2015, that the U.S.-E.U. Safe Harbor program, which allowed for trans-Atlantic data transfers between the United States and European Economic Area (EEA), is invalid effective immediately and without a transition period. The Safe Harbor program enabled companies to legally transfer data between the EEA and the United States in compliance with the European Data Protection Directive (the "Directive"), which generally prohibits transfer of personal data outside of the EEA. Currently, more than 4,000 companies are members of the now-defunct Safe Harbor program.