On 17 July 2018, the EU and Japan announced the conclusion of discussions on reciprocal adequacy of their legal systems, agreeing to create the world’s largest area of safe data flows.  You can read the official press release here.

The successful conclusion of the EU-Japan data protection-related talks is very good news for everyone. It will not only enhance international trade between the EU and Japan, providing equivalent reciprocal privacy safeguards to citizens, but will also contribute to further shaping consistent and globally recognised personal data principles. Asian systems have a significantly different traditional and cultural approach to privacy and data protection with respect to European systems.

The positive conclusion of the adequacy talks for Japan means that a way to finally speak the same privacy language has been achieved. A meaningful stepping stone is laid down to effectively connect Europe and Asia, setting the standards for future adequacy negotiations in that area. Europe is well positioned to promote and lead the international privacy discussion and this is a significant step in that direction.