McGrath evaluates GDPR progress on tenth anniversary of its adoption

European Commissioner Michael McGrath has evaluated the progress of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as it approaches the tenth anniversary of its adoption in April 2016. Speaking at an event in San Francisco, McGrath stated that the landmark legislation has resulted in "more pluses than minuses" in terms of the protection of  EU citizens' personal information.

Despite its success, McGrath highlighted the need for targeted and proportionate changes to the regulation. A central issue identified through stakeholder dialogues is the lack of consistent EU-wide application, currently caused by 27 different national data protection authorities (DPAs) adjudicating the law independently. The Commission's Digital Omnibus proposal for cybersecurity and data aims to resolve these discrepancies in legal interpretation to ensure a more uniform approach.

McGrath also addressed the longevity of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF), noting that the agreement has proven more resilient than previous data transfer mechanisms because it is mutually beneficial. Despite ongoing tensions regarding trade and digital regulation, McGrath emphasised that both the EU and the US recognise the significant stakes involved. He added that major US companies, as direct beneficiaries, support maintaining the framework to avoid economic disruption.

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