BRUSSELS (AP) - A European Parliament committee on Monday approved sweeping new data protection rules that would strengthen online privacy and outlaw the kind of data transfers that the United States used for its secret spying program.
The draft regulation was beefed up after Edward Snowden's leaks about allegedly widespread U.S. online snooping to include even more stringent privacy protection and stiff fines for violations. The legislation will have significant implications for U.S. Internet companies, too.
After 18 months of wrangling and fierce industry lobbying, the legislation easily passed late Monday with a 49-3 committee vote, with one abstention. Parliament still needs to hold a plenary vote and seek agreement with the EU's 28 member states though - which is likely to result in some changes.
The rules would for the first time create a strong data protection law for Europe's 500 million citizens, replacing an outdated patchwork of national rules that only allow for tiny fines in cases of violation.