Europe's top privacy watchdog calls on firms to curb US data transfers

Complicated: The ECJ's landmark decision stemmed from a complaint by Schrems (pic), who challenged Facebook's transfers of European users' data to its American servers because of the risk of US snooping.

BRUSSELS: Europe's top data privacy watchdog called on firms to limit transfers of Europeans' personal data to the United States, sounding a warning after a court struck down a pact between the regions over concerns about US government surveillance. 

Yet Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, who heads a working group of 28 European data protection regulators, also sought to reassure by saying companies would have three months' grace to comply with the court decision before countries begin enforcement actions.