Tik Tok under attack by the United States Congress, but why open opt-in data sources are every…. plus it’s on in the fine print…

The issue of cross-border data sharing has become increasingly important in today’s globalized world. With the rise of the digital age, personal data has become a valuable commodity that can be easily transferred across borders. However, this raises concerns about privacy and data protection, particularly in cases where data is transferred from one country to another. In this paper, we will explore the importance of privacy between countries, citing examples of court cases where it was deemed necessary for the data to remain within the country of origin.

Case Study 1: Schrems II vs. Facebook In the Schrems II case, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the Privacy Shield agreement, which allowed the transfer of personal data from the European Union (EU) to the United States (US), was invalid. The court cited concerns about the US government’s access to personal data, as well as the lack of legal remedies for EU citizens in the US. As a result, companies such as Facebook were required to store personal data within the EU, rather than transferring it to the US.

This case demonstrates the importance of privacy between countries, particularly in cases where there are significant differences in data protection laws and government surveillance practices. It also highlights the need for legal remedies to be in place for individuals in cases where their privacy has been compromised.

Case Study 2: Canada vs. Facebook In 2019, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) found that Facebook had violated Canadian privacy laws by allowing third-party apps to access users’ personal data without their consent. The OPC ordered Facebook to implement several measures to improve its data protection practices, including obtaining users’ express consent for the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information.

This case demonstrates the importance of privacy within a country, as well as the need for companies to adhere to local data protection laws. It also highlights the role of government agencies in enforcing these laws and protecting the privacy of citizens.

Case Study 3: China vs. Apple In 2018, the Chinese government passed a cybersecurity law that required companies to store Chinese citizens’ personal data within the country. Apple complied with this law by storing iCloud data within China, despite concerns about government surveillance and censorship. However, this decision was criticized by human rights groups, who argued that it could enable the Chinese government to access users’ personal data.

This case demonstrates the complex nature of cross-border data sharing, particularly in cases where there are significant differences in data protection laws and government surveillance practices. It also highlights the need for companies to balance the demands of local laws with the privacy rights of their users.