The new deal updates a 25 year old agreement on the upholding of
privacy laws. A new deal was needed in order to guard against the
privacy risks of the increasing amounts of personal data currently
being sent from country to country.
"The initiative is motivated by a recognition that changes in
the character and volume of cross-border data flows have elevated
privacy risks for individuals and highlighted the need for better
co-operation among the authorities charged with providing them
protection," said a statement from the OECD.
The OECD recommendation outlines the ways in which member
governments have agreed to help each other to protect privacy by
increasing the amount of international cooperation on privacy laws.
It also outlines how countries will assist one another in the
enforcement of privacy laws.
The Canadian Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart is behind
the recommendations, which provide common methods by which
countries can cooperate.
Each country will produce a list of contacts who will coordinate
any foreign requests for assistance in protecting privacy. They
will also begin to use a standardised form when requesting
assistance of another country.
More than 25 years ago the OECD produced its Privacy Guidelines.
Most countries adopted privacy laws after this, though, and the
organisation says that the nature and function of cross border data
exchange have changed significantly in that time.
"OECD work on privacy law enforcement co-operation was
undertaken in the context of increasing concerns about the privacy
risks associated with the changing character and growing volume of
cross-border data flows," says the Recommendation. "Globalisation,
the emergence of 'follow the sun' business models, the growth of
the internet and falling communication costs dramatically increase
the amount of personal information flowing across borders. This
increase in transborder information flows benefits both
organisations and individuals by lowering costs, increasing
efficiency and improving customer convenience. At the same time,
these personal information flows elevate concerns about privacy,
and present new challenges with respect to protecting individuals’
personal information."
The OECD is an organisation comprising members from Europe,
America and other developed economies. It aims to help these
countries solve some of the problems created by increasing
globalisation.
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