Committee to Hold Hearing on EU-US Privacy Shield and the Future of Transatlantic Data Flows

December 2, 2020

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing titled, “The Invalidation of the EU-US Privacy Shield and the Future of Transatlantic Data Flows,” at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 9. The hearing will explore policy issues that led to the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) invalidation of the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework, one of the key mechanisms for allowing the transfer of personal data from the European Union to the United States. The hearing will also examine the impact of the ECJ’s decision on U.S. businesses engaging in transatlantic digital commerce and what steps the U.S. Government is taking to develop a successor data transfer framework with the Europeans.

Witnesses:

  • The Honorable Noah Phillips, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission
  • Ms. Victoria Espinel, President and Chief Executive Officer, BSA – The Software Alliance
  • Mr. Neil Richards, Koch Distinguished Professor in Law, Washington University School of Law
  • Mr. James Sullivan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Mr. Peter Swire, Elizabeth and Tommy Holder Chair of Law and Ethics, Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business, and Research Director, Cross-Border Data Forum

*Witness list subject to change 

Hearing Details:

Wednesday, December 9, 2020
10:00 a.m.
Full Committee Hearing (Hybrid)  

This hearing will take place in the Russell Senate Office Building 253. Witness testimony, opening statements, and a live video of the hearing will be available on www.commerce.senate.gov

*In order to maintain physical distancing as advised by the Office of the Attending Physician, seating for credentialed press will be limited throughout the course of the hearing. Due to current limited access to the Capitol complex, the general public is encouraged to view this hearing via the live stream.

*Note: Witness list updated 12/7/2020