A few thoughts in preparation for the #CJEU decision on #SchremsII, which is now a week away and is bound to change the way we approach the restrictions on data transfers out of the EU which have been in the law for 25 years...

First of all, this decision is part of the @Snowden disclosures’ legacy, which shook Europe probably more than any other part of the world. So whatever happens, expect big statements about the need for government access to data to be NECESSARY and PROPORTIONAL in a democracy.

We’ll obviously get all the gory details next week, but I think it is beyond doubt that the #CJEU decision will be a game changer primarily for:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇪🇺" title="Flagge der Europäischen Union" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge der Europäischen Union">&https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇬🇧" title="Flagge des Vereinigten Königreiches" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge des Vereinigten Königreiches">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇺🇸" title="Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten">data transfers
And
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇪🇺" title="Flagge der Europäischen Union" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge der Europäischen Union">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇬🇧" title="Flagge des Vereinigten Königreiches" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge des Vereinigten Königreiches">data transfers after #Brexit transition period

The viability of Standard Contractual Clauses (by far the most widely used mechanism to legitimise transfers) is at stake. Even if no invalidation happens, companies & regulators will be directly charged with demonstrably ensuring that any contracts in place deliver protection.

For https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇬🇧" title="Flagge des Vereinigten Königreiches" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge des Vereinigten Königreiches">companies, the Withdrawal Agreement means that #CJEU decisions still apply here, so transfers out of the UK will be affected despite #Brexit.
The effect after the Transition Period depends entirely on whether https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇬🇧" title="Flagge des Vereinigten Königreiches" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge des Vereinigten Königreiches">gets an adequacy finding for https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇪🇺" title="Flagge der Europäischen Union" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge der Europäischen Union">transfers by @EU_Commission

As to the #PrivacyShield, the focus will be on whether #CJEU regards https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇺🇸" title="Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten">government commitments as being in line with European law, so compliance with the framework by data importers may not deliver sufficient overall protection despite their efforts.

The bottom line is that everyone will need to act fast to:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="1️⃣" title="Tastenkappe Ziffer 1" aria-label="Emoji: Tastenkappe Ziffer 1">Understand the effect of the decision
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="2️⃣" title="Tastenkappe Ziffer 2" aria-label="Emoji: Tastenkappe Ziffer 2">Assess the impact on their data transfers
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="3️⃣" title="Tastenkappe Ziffer 3" aria-label="Emoji: Tastenkappe Ziffer 3">Put in place remedial measures wherever the weaknesses are
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="4️⃣" title="Tastenkappe Ziffer 4" aria-label="Emoji: Tastenkappe Ziffer 4">Repeat the above on an ongoing basis