Brits will be losing protections surrounding their data as Google plans to move its UK users' information out of Ireland.

Reuters reports that according to three anonymous sources familiar with the changes, Google is supposedly going to make its UK users sign a new term of service because of the drastic shift in regulatory policy surrounding Brexit.

Currently, some British data is stored on the search engine’s servers in Ireland, but after December 31 2020 it is very possible that UK users' data will no longer fall under GDPR, come December 31.

Reuters' sources say the tech giant will be moving the data over to US jurisdiction. No date has been given yet for when any of these supposed changes will take place.

Google says otherwise

DCD contacted Google for a comment, and the search giant said that so far there are no plans to bring about any changes.

A Google spokesperson said: “Like many companies, we have to prepare for Brexit. Nothing about our services or our approach to privacy will change, including how we collect or process data, and how we respond to law enforcement demands for users' information.

“The protections of the UK GDPR will still apply to these users."

CLOUD Act

With Britain’s exit from the EU, it is rumored that British authorities could have a much easier time accessing British data if it is held by an American firm than onein Europe, because of differences in privacy law.

Back in 2018, DCD reported on the CLOUD Act, a bill put before the US Senate proposing “law enforcement access to data stored across borders.”

The Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act attempts to address issues involving data seizure requests by US authorities in foreign countries, but also allows foreign governments access to data held by companies in the US.”

The Act was passed in March 2018.