European Parliament Votes For Data Privacy Rules After Snowden Revelations Break Two Year Deadlock

Will curb transfer of personal data to US companies

Members of the European parliament have overwhelmingly backed draft rules on data privacy in the first concrete EU response to the revelations of mass digital surveillance by the Americans and the British. The new regime would curb the transfer of personal data to US corporations.

In a vote on Monday evening, MEPs on the parliament's civil liberties and justice committee supported the draft new regime, which will form a framework for further negotiations with the 28 governments of EU member states. 

The legislation has been gridlocked for almost two years following US pressure to dilute the package.