The European Union (EU) has called off its regulatory dogs for a while by saying that it will not enforce its data protection directive during talks with the US and not until December 15 at the earliest. The directive, which came into effect Sunday, prevents the transfer of personal data from EU countries to any country that does not provide what the EU perceives to be an adequate level of data protection, which includes the US. US commerce secretary William Daley announced yesterday that the EU has agreed not to enforce the directive while the two sides are in talks. Only three EU countries actually have all the legislation in place and the UK is due to have by January. It was not thought that many of the EU government would begin prosecuting US companies for moving data out of the EU until the New Year. The talks, which are due to reconvene in mid-November, are led by John Mogg, director general of Directorate General XV of the European Commission and under secretary David Aaron of the International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce.
