Brexit Means No GDPR Protection: Google May Move UK User Data

Brexit may have finally happened, but one side effect people may not have anticipated is losing GDPR protection as Google may be moving UK data out of the EU.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is one of the most sweeping, comprehensive data protection regulations in the world, aimed at giving people control of their own data and digital footprint. With Britain leaving the EU, sources have told Reuters that Google plans on moving its customers’ data to the U.S.

British Google users’ data is currently housed in Ireland, which is staying in the EU. To date, Britain has not committed to following the GDPR or implementing its own solution. Google evidently has some concerns that leaving its British data in Ireland would make it harder for British authorities to access it if the UK does not continue abiding by the GDPR.

As Reuters points out, the decision is likely encouraged by the fact that the U.S. has one of the weakest set of privacy laws of any major economy. Google will likely welcome the opportunity to deal with less oversight.