EU's Rules about International data transfer？

The European Union (EU) has established a comprehensive set of rules regarding the international transfer of personal data, which are designed to protect the privacy and fundamental rights of individuals. Here is a detailed overview of these rules:

1. Scope of Application: The EU data protection rules, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), apply to the European Economic Area (EEA), encompassing all EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway 14.

2. International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA): The UK, for instance, has laid before its Parliament the IDTA, which is a part of the international data transfer addendum to ensure the protection of personal data when transferred internationally 2.

3. Guidelines on Interplay: The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has provided guidelines to clarify the interplay between the application of Article 3 of the GDPR and other provisions, which is crucial for understanding the conditions under which personal data can be transferred outside the EEA 36.

4. Protection of Data: The GDPR ensures that the protection it offers travels with the data. This means that the rules safeguarding personal data continue to apply no matter where the data is processed or stored 4.

5. Conditions for Transfer: The transfer of personal data outside of the EU is permitted only under specific conditions as outlined in Directive 95/46/EC and reinforced in the GDPR. These conditions are in place to ensure an adequate level of data protection 7.

6. Regulatory Framework: The GDPR, which has been in force since 25 May 2018, has created a unified regulatory framework for the handling of personal data within the EU 8.

7. Non-Personal Data: There are also new rules aimed at ensuring that "protected" non-personal data is not transferred to countries outside the EEA without sufficient safeguards in place 5.

In summary, the EU's rules about international data transfer are centered around the GDPR, which provides a robust framework to protect personal data and ensure that it is only transferred under certain conditions that maintain the same level of protection as within the EEA. The EDPB's guidelines and the IDTA further support the application of these rules in practice.