For example, drugmakers complain that a European nation could prevent them from collecting scientific data about patients that are essential to conducting research studies. EU officials said Monday that member nations supported efforts to try to reach a compromise with the United States by year's end. The American diplomat said if the negotiations prove fruitless and the EU rules hurt U.S. businesses, Washington intends to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization. The dispute raises questions about what would happen to international banking and credit card businesses and Internet commerce if the transatlantic laws fail to mesh. Personal data including addresses, ages, buying habits and income brackets are bought and sold by list brokers in the European Union as well as in the United States.
Brokers sell the lists to companies looking for specific demographic groups for their products.
The issue underlines the differences between the United States and Europe over how privacy is protected. The basic principle of EU rules is that data should be transferred to a non-EU country only if it will be adequately protected there, too. American regulations would not provide such protections. Detroit Free Press and may not be republished without permission.