International

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Multinational Forums

• Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities
• APEC
  • The Electronic Commerce Steering Group (ECSG)
  • Privacy Framework
• OECD
• Working Party on Information Security and Privacy (WPISP)
• Seoul Declaration (June 2008)

International Events

• Privacy Awareness Week
• 30th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners (2008)

Memorandums of Understanding

• New Zealand and Australian Memorandum of Understanding

Privacy Links

• International - privacy and information/data protection regulators, agencies and multinational forums
• International conventions
• International Conference on Privacy and Personal Data Protection
• International privacy law around the world
• International developments in Privacy

The APEC Privacy Framework aims to promote a consistent approach to information privacy protection across APEC member economies, while avoiding the creation of unnecessary barriers to information flows.  The aim is to have protections consistent across the region which will place APEC at the forefront of e-commerce.

Consistent with the OECD Privacy Guidelines, the Privacy Framework’s principles and implementation guidance are focused on the achievement of four main goals:

(i)              to develop appropriate privacy protections for personal information;

(ii)            to prevent the creation of unnecessary barriers to information flows;

(iii)          to enable multinational businesses to implement uniform approaches to the collection, use and processing of data; and

(iv)          to facilitate both domestic and international efforts to promote and enforce information privacy protections.

The Privacy Framework was endorsed by APEC Ministers in Chile in December 2004.  The Privacy Framework consists of four parts: Part I is a preamble; Part II deals with the scope of the principles; Part III contains the nine privacy principles, and Part IV deals with implementation of the principles.  A commentary has been published alongside the sections of Parts II and III to provide further information and context.

Other information

• APEC Privacy Framework - PDF
• Electronic Commerce Steering Group on the APEC website

  http://www.apec.org/apec/apec_groups/som_special_task_groups/electronic_commerce.html

New Zealand and Australian Memorandum of Understanding - PDF (August 2008)

The Australian Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, and the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner, Marie Shroff, have renewed a two year Memorandum of Understanding that allows for cooperation on privacy related issues.

The agreement covers the sharing of information related to surveys, research projects, promotional campaigns, education and training programs, and techniques in investigating privacy violations and regulatory strategies. Other areas addressed include cooperation on complaints with a cross-border element and the possible undertaking of joint investigations.

The agreement stems in part from the APEC Privacy Framework, OECD Guidelines Governing the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data, and the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum, all of which advocate the forming of cooperative arrangements between privacy regulators.

This agreement has been used as a starting point for the development of an agreement to facilitate the management of cross-border privacy related complaints between APEC jurisdictions.

2008 Media Release: Australia & New Zealand - privacy regulators sign agreement
2006 Media Announcement: Cross - Tasman initiative to promote privacy protection