Top EU court ditches transatlantic data transfer deal

European Commissioners Vera Jourova and Didier Reynders hold a news conference on data protection in Brussels, Belgium, July 16. — Stephanie Lecocq/Pool via Reuters

LUXEMBOURG: Europe's highest court ruled on July 16 that a transatlantic data transfer deal is invalid because of concerns about US surveillance in a decision that could disrupt thousands of companies that rely on the agreement.

The ruling, which cannot be appealed, effectively ends the privileged access companies in the United States had to personal data from Europe and puts the country on a similar footing to other nations outside the 27-country bloc.