On 7 October, the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it “intends to work expediently to conclude its assessment on US adequacy”. This follows the adoption of an Executive Order (EO) in the United States to overcome questions surrounding its Intelligence Services’ Access to personal data. The announcement of the EO means that the EU can start taking steps towards the reworked Privacy Shield, and a draft adequacy decision.

Under the EO, the US is making a commitment to conduct intelligence-gathering activities only in pursuit of defined national security objectives, and to take into consideration the privacy and civil liberties of all persons, regardless of nationality or country of residence.