Microsoft throws its weight behind Privacy Shield

'The EU and the US are better off with this new Privacy Shield,' Microsoft legal bigwig claims

Microsoft has said it wholeheartedly believes in the new Privacy Shield as it lobbies for its approval.

The US giant's vice president for EU government affairs, John Frank, said in a blog post this morning that after reviewing the documentation "in detail", he thinks the arrangement provides a "strong foundation" on which to build.

Privacy Shield is the name given to the new plans by the US and EU to protect citizens' data after its processor Safe Harbour - a self-certification scheme which governed the transmission of data between Europe and the US - was invalidated.

Data residency and privacy has become a hot topic among tech firms as increasingly vast amounts of data are created by customers. High-profile court cases regarding access to data across the Atlantic have hit the headlines and tech companies have been desperate to convince customers that their data is safe from prying eyes.

Frank said "no one should give up their privacy rights simply because their information is stored in electronic form or their technology service provider transfers it to another country," adding that Microsoft believes privacy to be a "fundamental human right".

He welcomed the Privacy Shield plans, which are expected to be fully implemented in the summer, albeit cautiously.

"As a company, we have also said since last fall that no single legal instrument can address for all time all of the privacy issues on both sides of the Atlantic," he said.

"We continue to believe today that additional steps will be needed to build upon the Privacy Shield after it is adopted, ranging from additional domestic legislation to modernisation of mutual legal assistance treaties and new bilateral and ultimately multilateral agreements. But we believe that the Privacy Shield as negotiated provides a strong foundation on which to build."

Frank added that Microsoft has made specific commitments in anticipation of Privacy Shield getting the go-ahead.

"Part of Microsoft's commitment, as the Privacy Shield envisions, will be to respond promptly to any individual complaints we receive," he said. "Specifically, we will do this within 45 days. In addition, Microsoft will commit to co-operate with EU national data protection authorities and comply with their advice as regards any disputes under the Privacy Shield."