Tokyo & Brussels, 23 Jan 2019 – Today is a milestone day for Japan-EU digital economic relations. After several months of negotiations, the Japan-EU data transfer agreement comes into force. Data transfers are key to the development of AI, data analytics, and other cloud solutions, which in turn leads to economic success in all industry sectors. Recognizing the adequacy of each jurisdiction’s systems for protecting personal information and for facilitating international data transfers between the two markets is a significant step forward for both economies and all consumers.

“BSA congratulates Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission and the European Commission on the successful implementation of this agreement. By preserving the flexibilities that exist in Japan’s distinct privacy law, the arrangement effectively promotes personal data protection and data transfers between these two globally important markets. We applaud both governments for their hard work on this negotiation and we are confident that agreements like this will spur economic growth and job creation in Japan, Europe, and around the world,” said Jared Ragland, Senior Director, Policy — APAC.

“We congratulate both the European Commission and Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission on the successful implementation of this agreement. Confidence in the legal basis for transferring data internationally, while ensuring the effective protection of personal information, is critical to our 21st century economy,” said Thomas Boué, Director General, Policy — EMEA, BSA | The Software Alliance.