Privacy Talk | The New Swiss Data Protection Act
In this week’s edition, we discuss the Swiss Government’s rejection of a landmark ruling that the country had violated the human rights of a group of its citizens by failing to take adequate action on climate change; a report...more
The November U.S. Presidential electoral campaign is in full swing. Since President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and Vice President Kamala Harris secured the Democratic Party nomination, polls now show a tight race...more
I recently traveled to Amsterdam to participate in an expert seminar on European cannabis and drug policy. The seminar covered various topics, including a thought experiment on where European Union (EU) cannabis reform was...more
On April 9, 2024, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (the “Court) handed down its unappealable judgment in a landmark climate case. Although directed at the Swiss government, the judgment extends to all...more
Today, the European Court of Human Rights issued a decision holding that Switzerland violated the human rights of its citizens by failing to adequately protect them from climate change. Specifically, the Court held that...more
While the cannabis industry in the United States awaits a marijuana scheduling decision from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), many countries around the world continue to move forward with liberalizing their cannabis...more
Swiss Banks Launch Tokenization Pilot, Crypto Custody and Trading Services - A recent press release announced a pilot by “SIX, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) and six commercial banks” that seeks “to test, in a live...more
The new Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection, known by the acronym “nFADP,” took effect on September 1. The law was enacted by the Swiss parliament in 2020. The law introduces new rights for Swiss citizens, but also...more
On the 16th of August, Switzerland adopted new measures against Russia, following the EU's 11th sanctions package. Switzerland extends the scope of existing sanctions, for example extending export bans to cover the transfer...more
The new framework provides an additional route for personal data transfers from the EEA to the US. On 10 July 2023, the European Commission (EC) took the final step to enable businesses to start relying on the new EU-US...more
Summary - On July 10, 2023, the European Commission issued an adequacy decision for the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (“EU-U.S. DPF” or “DPF”). The decision concludes that the U.S. ensures an adequate level of protection...more
On July 10, 2023, the European Commission adopted an adequacy decision for the new EU-US Data Privacy Framework (“DPF”), the revamped transatlantic framework designed to support transfers of personal data from the EU to...more
As of July 17, 2023, the Data Privacy Framework website and certification mechanism is fully functional and organizations that are approved under the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (Framework) may begin taking advantage of...more
On July 10, 1962, NASA launched Telstar 1, the first active communications satellite linking Europe and the United States through live television transmission. Sixty-one years later, on July 10, 2023, the European Commission...more
On July 10, 2023, the EU Commission approved the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (“EU-US DPF”) as a valid transfer mechanism for sharing personal data from European Economic Area countries (those in the EU plus Iceland,...more
As of July 1, 2023, Belgium has applied a new uniform screening mechanism for FDI, (Foreign Direct Investment) laid down in a Cooperation Agreement, agreed upon by all Belgian regions and the Belgian Federal State. Under...more
On 29 March and 20 April 2023, Switzerland adopted new measures against Russia, following those recently adopted by the EU as part of a tenth sanction package. More industrial, high-tech and aviation goods are now banned for...more
Now in its seventh year of annual publication, White & Case's Foreign Direct Investment Reviews provides a comprehensive look into rapidly evolving foreign direct investment (FDI) laws and regulations in approximately 40...more
In recognition of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)...more
Switzerland implemented the remaining measures of the EU ninth package of sanctions in its Ordinance on Measures Connected with the Situation in Ukraine (the "Ordinance"switz), with effect from 25 January at 18:00 CET. These...more
Oil price cap - The oil price cap has been co-ordinated by the G7 in order to make EU, UK and US services (including (re)insurance) available to third country importers and exporters as long as the price paid for...more
Switzerland has expanded existing sanctions and implemented new measures in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The latest modification of the Ordinance on Measures Connected with the Situation in Ukraine (the...more
Recently, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken additional actions against Russia in response to its continued invasion of Ukraine. Specifically, OFAC: ..Issued guidance...more
National and supranational legislatures continue to develop laws requiring employers to conduct due diligence of their operations and those of their business partners in order to address human rights risks such as forced...more
The Swiss government has drafted a proposed list of countries that are approved to receive personal data transfers out of Switzerland. Japan and South Korea are excluded from the current and proposed lists, requiring...more