EU commissioner for justice Viviane Reding said that the EU would respond firmly to any attempts by US lobbyists – backed by leading US tech companies  including Google and Facebook – to curb the EU data protection law.

European standards

‘Exempting non-EU companies from our data protection regulation is not on the table. It would mean applying double standards,’ Ms Reding told the Financial Times yesterday.
‘Data protection is a fundamental right in Europe which is clearly enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Whilst this may not be the case in other parts of the world, one thing is clear: if companies want to tap into the European market they have to apply European standards.’

US demands

According to the report, the exchange of views will likely spark a showdown between Brussels and Washington, which has already expressed concern over the choking effects of the proposed laws.
The European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association, which represents the leading telecoms network operators in Europe, will be meeting Ms Reding today to seek reassurance that Brussels will not give in to US demands.