APEC Data Privacy Sub-Group
In recent years the issue of data privacy protection has become a focus for APEC attention. Australia and the United States were instrumental in establishing the APEC Data Privacy Sub-Group in 2002. The Data Privacy Sub-Group was created under the umbrella of the APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group (ECGS). The Steering Group had been established in the late 1990s to develop solutions that would allow members to develop the potential of electronic commerce in the region. As electronic commerce developed in the APEC region, the importance of privacy protection became apparent.
In January 2007 Australia was elected to the Chair of the Sub-Group for a two-year term. The Sub-Group holds two meetings in the APEC host economy each year. In addition, the Chair organises monthly teleconferences for members of the Sub-Group to advance work between meetings.
Current issues
The Sub-Group is currently working on the international implementation of the APEC Privacy Framework. There are three elements to this work: developing information sharing arrangements on privacy issues between economies; ensuring cross-border cooperation between regulators or other government authorities in investigation and enforcement of privacy complaints; and the cooperative development of a system that facilitates the use of Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPRs) by business to ensure privacy protection for citizens in APEC economies. The development of a CBPR system, which should also incorporate the first two elements, is the most important issue.
The Data Privacy meeting dates for APEC 2007 were 22-26 January 2007 in Canberra and 25-29 June 2007 in Cairns. Further information on each of the Data Privacy seminars is available at:
Want to know more?
General information about APEC and ECSG can be found on the APEC website.
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