US Government Seeks To Join Facebook Case in Irish High Court, Says Litigant Max Schrems
Austrian privacy activist and attorney Max Schrems said the U.S. government asked the Irish High Court to weigh in on his case against Facebook (see 1606020018). Schrems, who's best known for successfully challenging the trans-Atlantic safe harbor agreement due in…
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part to U.S. surveillance programs, said in a Monday news release that the U.S. government wants to join as an amicus curiae because it "likely wants to defend its surveillance laws before the European Courts." Schrems is fighting Facebook's use of model contracts, which is one vehicle that businesses use to legally transfer data to the U.S. as European Union officials still assess Privacy Shield, the new mechanism that would replace safe harbor (see 1606060034). In the release, Schrems said he welcomes the U.S. government's involvement. "This is a huge chance to finally get solid answers in a public procedure," he said. "I am very much looking forward to raise all the uncomfortable questions on US surveillance programs in this procedure. It will be very interesting how the US government will react to the clear evidence already before the court." DOJ didn't comment.