Transatlantic data pact struck down by EU's highest court

Luxembourg

A TRANSATLANTIC pact that potentially allows US spies to get their hands on European citizens' private data was declared illegal by the EU's highest court, in a ruling that threatens to plunge Internet companies into a legal limbo.

Judges at the European Union's top court struck down the so-called "Safe Harbor" accord after an Austrian law student complained about how US security services can gain unfettered access to Facebook Inc customer information sent to the US.

The 15-year-old agreement, that allo…