The final version of the new standard contractual clauses (“SCCs”) were published by the European Commission on June 4, 2021. Many organizations that transfer or receive personal data originating in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) outside the EEA will be required to implement these SCCs with their customers, suppliers and affiliates by December 2022 to comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). This is perhaps the most significant GDPR development since the passage of the GDPR. We had foreshadowed this impending development last week.

On May 12, 2009, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) released a much anticipated report authored by the RAND Corporation assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC) (the "Directive), the main source of privacy legislation in Europe. While the report highlighted a number of the Directive’s positive attributes, it nonetheless concluded that as society becomes more globally networked, "the Directive as it stands will not suffice in the long term."

Proskauer Rose LLP has just released “Proskauer on International Litigation and Arbitration: Managing, Resolving, and Avoiding Cross-Border Business and Regulatory Disputes.” The online guide is a practical reference work for businesses and practitioners; it explores best practices and creative yet practical approaches to manage, resolve, and avoid controversies affecting multiple jurisdictions. The 28-chapter guide is available free in e-Book format at www.proskauerguide.com. It includes a thorough chapter on international privacy law.