Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Despite Stricter Rules in Europe, U.S. Companies More Advanced in Protecting Data

By David Bender
June 15, 2006

A new study comparing European and U.S. corporate privacy practices reveals that while European companies impose tighter restrictions on the sharing of sensitive personal data, U.S. companies overall provide a higher level of privacy.

Sponsored by global law firm White & Case LLP as part of its annual Global Privacy Symposium, this 'Benchmark Study of European and U.S. Corporate Privacy Practices' was conducted by the independent privacy think-tank Ponemon Institute. The study confidentially surveyed 47 U.S. and European multinational companies on eight privacy practices, including: privacy policy; communications and training; privacy management; data security methods; privacy compliance; choice and consent; cross-national standards; and redress.

The survey revealed that European companies are much more likely to have privacy practices that restrict or limit the sharing of customer or employees' sensitive personal information, and are also more likely to provide employees with choice or consent on how information is used or shared. But the research also showed that U.S. companies are engaging in more security and control-oriented compliance activities than their European counterparts. As a result, contrary to conventional wisdom, U.S. corporations scored higher in five of the eight areas of corporate privacy practice.

Read These Next
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York Image

In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?

Fresh Filings Image

Notable recent court filings in entertainment law.