United States Begins Accommodation of European Internet Privacy Rules

U.S. companies are observing new rules for privacy protection, but these apply only to European consumers. Beginning this month, U.S. companies must meet the privacy standards of the European Union (EU) in order to do business in Europe. They can do so by certifying that they meet the personal data protection requirements of the "Safe Harbor" agreement between the United States and the EU. The agreement averted a situation where U.S. companies would have faced serious obstacles to participating in European e-commerce. The start of Safe Harbor has serious implications for the privacy debate in the United States.