“International data flows are an integral pillar of global trade, and any disruption to their free flow constitutes a major challenge to every economic sector,” the groups wrote in the letter sent Monday.
Brussels, December 21st, 2020 — The Developers Alliance has joined a wide-ranging coalition of industry groups in a call to the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and the European Commission to ensure much-needed legal certainty around data flows in and outside of the European Union.
“We are calling the EU to provide the necessary legal clarity and certainty for software development and business operations. Software developers are waiting for solutions,” stated Karina Stan, Director of EU Policy and Head of Brussels Office. “The ultimate impact of the unsettled situation of data flows is on digital products and services that consumers and businesses avail themselves of. This is more critical than ever in the current context of the corona pandemic.”
Signatories note that the repercussions of an unduly restrictive approach to data flows will also hit hard more traditional European industries, as a recent BusinessEurope-led coalition statement underlines. They also highlight uncertainties caused by the 16 July ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the so-called Schrems II case (C-311/18) invalidating the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield agreement as a mechanism to transfer data between the EU and the U.S. Particularly, the groups urge decision-makers to address concerns raised around the European Data Protection Board’s draft Recommendations for supplementary measures. The groups recommend that equipping companies with a practical “toolbox” of measures would aid compliance and align with the GDPR’s risk-based approach while allowing for practical ways to allow data transfers in a way that is compliant with EU law.
The full letter is available here.
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About The Developers Alliance
The Developers Alliance is the world’s leading advocate for software developers and the companies invested in their success. Alliance members include industry leaders in consumer, enterprise, industrial, and emerging software development, and a global network of more than 70,000 developers.
