MEPs conclude visit to U.S., discuss data protection
A delegation of seven MEPs visited Washington, D.C. from 23 to 26 May to discuss the state of play on major Civil Liberties Committee topics with U.S. authorities and stakeholders.
Discussions during the Civil Liberties Committee delegation’s visit focused on the agreement, in principle, of a new transatlantic data privacy framework, possible future legislation on personal data protection at the U.S. federal level, the increased number of such comprehensive privacy legislation adopted at State level, the use of artificial intelligence in law enforcement.
Civil Liberties Committee Chair and head of the delegation, Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES), commented on the talks on data protection: “We are pleased that the U.S. administration is now coming forward with a proposal to address the shortcomings raised by the European Court of Justice in transatlantic transfers of personal data and we look forward to exercising our powers of scrutiny on the final text. The details of the agreement have yet to be made public but the European Parliament wants a robust, effective and data protection compliant system for international data flows that provides the adequate level of data protection for EU citizens.”
Discussions on the EU-U.S. agreement on sharing electronic evidence, currently on hold, and on cooperation in the fight against child sexual exploitation online were also high on the delegation’s agenda.
In relation to artificial intelligence and algorithmic biases, the delegation held talks with the newly-appointed Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya of the Federal Trade Commission. The delegation further elaborated on the current work on the Artificial Intelligence Act at the European level and discussed with their interlocutors current relevant developments in the U.S.
