Tech Companies Can Blame Snowden for Data Privacy Decision

A ruling by the Europe Union’s highest court today may create enormous headaches for US tech companies like Google and Facebook. But it could also provide more robust privacy protections for European citizens. And they all have Edward Snowden to thank—or blame.

Up until now, these companies have been able to transfer data they collect from users in the European Union to servers in the US, a practice made possible by the EU’s executive branch’s so-called “Safe Harbor Decision” in 2000. Today, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the Safe Harbor Decision was invalid. The ruling cannot be appealed.

Now tech companies have to figure out what the ruling means. Facebook and other companies haven’t been found guilty of any wrongdoing. But quashing the Safe Harbor Decision could open the floodgates to privacy investigations and lawsuits.