U.S. Preps Big Tech on U.K. Data Transfers During Brexit Turmoil

Big tech companies such as Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.'s Google can keep transferring valuable data out of the U.K. amid the Brexit chaos, under a deal struck by the U.S. Commerce Department and the U.K.'s privacy office.

Commerce clarified to tech companies Dec. 20 that they can continue using the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield data transfer program—even if the U.K. leaves the European Union without a withdrawal agreement. The companies must upgrade their privacy policies and follow enforcement rules dictated by the Privacy Shield program, the department said.

Companies taking those steps will be seen as cooperating and complying “with ...