EU-Japan Data Sharing Accord Takes Effect (1)

The European Union and Japan have taken the final step in adopting an accord that will allow the free flow of data between the EU and Japan starting Jan. 23.

The European Commission adopted an adequacy decision allowing Japanese companies to lawfully transfer personal data from the EU to Japan without additional protections.

The Japanese Personal Information Protection Commission now also recognizes the EU’s data protection regime as equivalent. It’s the first adequacy finding with a mutual recognition by each side that the other has sufficient data protection safeguards.

The EU-Japan decision “creates the world’s largest area of safe data ...