Europe's second-highest court has dismissed a challenge against a data transfer pact between the European Union and the US. "On the date of adoption of the contested decision, the United States of America ensured an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred from the European Union to organisations in that country," the EU's General Court ruled (PDF).The two sides brokered the Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework in 2023 to continue allowing US companies to store European users' personal data on Stateside servers. The pact included a proviso that allows for Europeans to file complaints over what US companies do with their data.French politician Philippe Latombe sued the European Commission (EC), the EU's executive arm and the body that struck the deal with the US, claiming that "there were inadequate guarantees of respect for private and family life in the agreement because of the widespread and bulk collection of personal data," according to Reuters. He also said that the Data Protection Review Court (DPRC), the body that was set up to handle complaints from Europeans, wasn't an independent tribunal and didn't necessarily offer the level of protection required under European law.The General Court determined that the DPRC's functioning and appointment of judges "are accompanied by several safeguards and conditions to ensure the independence of its members." It stated that the judges can only be removed by the Attorney General and for cause, while the AG and intelligence agencies "may not hinder or improperly influence their work."The political landscape has shifted dramatically since the agreement was reached in 2023. The Trump administration has asserted control over independent government agencies and it's been at loggerheads with the EU over issues such as regulating major US-based tech companies and international trade. Still, the General Court points out that the EC is required to keep an eye on the application of the legal framework."If the legal framework in force in the United States at the time of the adoption of the contested decision changes, the Commission may decide, if necessary, to suspend, amend or repeal the contested decision or to limit its scope," the court said. The judges also dismissed Latombe's claims regarding the bulk collection of personal data.Latombe can still take the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Europe's top court previously scrapped two previous data transfer deals between the EU and US - the Safe Harbor agreement and the Privacy Shield - following challenges by pro-privacy activist Max Schrems, who raised concerns about American intelligence agencies accessing the private data of European citizens.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/european-court-rules-in-favor-of-the-latest-us-and-eu-data-transfer-framework-150049576.html?src=rss

The European Union has asked Apple, Google and Microsoft to explain how they police online financial scams, stepping up enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), as first reported by the Financial Times. Formal information requests were also sent to Booking Holdings, the owner of Booking.com, regarding how the company handles fake accommodation listings. Likewise, regulators will be probing fake banking apps in Apple's App Store and Google Play. Additionally, they will be taking a close look at fake search results in Google search and Microsoft's Bing.Speaking with the Financial Times,EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said criminal activity is increasingly moving online and platforms must do more to detect and prevent illegal content. Virkkunen said that financial losses from online fraud exceed 4 billion a year (around $4.7 billion) across the EU, and that the rise of AI has made detecting these scams more difficult.The four companies will be given the chance to respond to these information requests, but under the DSA companies can face penalties up to 6 percent of their global annual revenue for failing to adequately combat illegal content and disinformation.Earlier this year Apple and Meta were fined around $570 million and $228 million, respectively, after the European Commission found them in violation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), though both companies are appealing the fines. The DMA is a set of rules governing online platforms that was adopted alongside the DSA in 2022.European fines on American companies, particularly a recent $3.5 billion fine levied on Google for antitrust violations, have drawn the attention and ire of President Donald Trump. The president has threatened a trade probe over what he views as "discriminatory actions" against American tech companies.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-eu-wants-apple-google-and-microsoft-to-clamp-down-on-online-scams-145333226.html?src=rss