Let’s talk privacy. 

It’s a hot topic. Everyone is concerned about what companies do with their information, and rightly so. In an age where you can do everything online – make purchases, check your bank statements, sign up for classes, and do your taxes, it’s important that we’re all mindful of what happens to the data we’re sharing (and who can get their hands on it).

Which is why the recent news regarding the EU-US Privacy Shield is so important. 

What is The EU-US Privacy Shield?

The Privacy Shield was an agreement that allowed for the transfer of personal data from the EU to the US. But, because the US has less stringent guidelines around what they do with personal information, this law was recently struck down. 

What Does This Mean For You?

While this may be bad news for US business, our Benchmark Email and BenchmarkONE users can rest easy. 

The Standard Contractual Clause (SCC), are standard terms and conditions that the sender and receiver of personal data agree to. It’s aimed at protecting user data leaving the EU and is compliant with the GDPR Guidelines. We operate under the SCC and GDPR Guidelines, meaning we adhere to the EU’s privacy regulations and protect the information of our users and our users’ clients. 

There are legal repercussions to not adhering to these laws. If you are not a Benchmark Email or BenchmarkONE user and do business with the EU, you’ll want to take the necessary steps to ensure you’re compliant:

  • Review your contracts to ensure they are used correctly and align with the GDPR.
  • If you are certified to rely on the Privacy Shield, examine how the personal data you are receiving from the EU is being used.
  • Safeguard those transfers via an alternative solution, such as SCCs or Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs).

We know we just threw a lot of jargon at you, so make sure you read as much information on this news as possible. Here are a few resources to help you gain a better understanding: