Switzerland ranks USA among countries with an adequate level of data protection
Published: Wednesday, Aug 14th 2024, 10:50
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The exchange of data between Switzerland and certified companies in the USA is secure. The Federal Council has come to this conclusion. It has therefore placed the USA on the list of countries with an adequate level of data protection.
The certification for companies in the USA and a new US data protection court allow the transfer of personal data from Switzerland to certified US companies without additional guarantees, the Federal Council wrote on Wednesday. It came to this conclusion following an assessment by the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ).
The certification of US companies ensures that they comply with the data protection measures and data protection guarantees. The companies in the USA may only process the data for the purposes for which it was collected. They may not pass it on to third parties.
If authorities in the USA gain access to personal data disclosed by Switzerland, there are guarantees. This includes a complaints mechanism.
Switzerland's data protection law, which has been in force since September 1, 2023, allows the transfer of personal data without additional guarantees - if the recipient country has an adequate level of data protection. The list of these countries is contained in the Data Protection Ordinance. The changes affecting the USA will apply from September 15, 2024.
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