BCR (Binding Corporate Rules)

Abbreviated form of Binding Corporate Rules, which are internal data protection policies approved by EU data protection authorities that allow multinational companies to transfer personal data among their corporate group across borders. BCRs serve as a GDPR transfer mechanism, permitting intra-company data flows from the EU to countries without adequacy decisions. Think of BCRs as a company's internal data protection constitution, binding all group entities to specific privacy standards. The approval process is rigorous and lengthy, requiring demonstration of enforceable rights for individuals, effective compliance mechanisms, and cooperation with data protection authorities. BCRs must be legally binding on all group members, provide substantial equivalent protections to GDPR, and include mechanisms for individuals to enforce their rights. Once approved, BCRs allow efficient data transfers within corporate groups while maintaining strong privacy protections.