The U.S. and EU have begun formal negotiations toward a pact to protect the personal information they exchange while fighting crime and terrorism, The Wall Street Journal reports. The negotiations come amid ongoing conflict between law enforcement's need for access to personal information in order to fight crime and the need to protect individuals' privacy. The U.S. and EU are "committed to ensuring a high level of protection of personal information while fighting crime and terrorism," a U.S. Justice Department statement said. The negotiations follow the U.S. decision last month to extend provisions of the Patriot Act, prompting advocates to call for safeguards. (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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