California & French Privacy Agencies Sign Cooperation Agreement

On June 25, 2024, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) and France's Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) signed a landmark declaration of cooperation in Paris. This agreement aims to strengthen efforts in safeguarding personal information and advancing privacy rights across borders.

CPPA Executive Director Ashkan Soltani and CNIL President Marie-Laure Denis signed the declaration, establishing a framework for collaboration that includes:

1. Conducting joint research on new technologies and data protection issues
2. Sharing best practices and experiences, including during investigations
3. Organizing joint training workshops

This partnership is designed to build strong institutional and human links between the CPPA and CNIL, allowing them to better understand new technologies and jointly address challenges in protecting personal data of Californian and French citizens. The collaboration aligns with California law, French law, and the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), all of which encourage international cooperation on privacy issues.

California has been at the forefront of consumer privacy legislation in the United States. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), enacted in 2018 and expanded by the California Privacy Rights Act in 2020, grants consumers unprecedented rights over their personal data. The CPPA, created in 2020 as a result of these laws, stands as the first independent data protection authority in the U.S. dedicated to privacy protection.

This agreement marks another milestone in the CPPA's growing international presence. The agency has previously joined the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) and the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN). In 2022, it became only the second U.S. organization to gain full voting membership in the Global Privacy Assembly.

Commenting on the partnership, CPPA Executive Director Ashkan Soltani stated, "We're pleased to collaborate with the CNIL and pave the way for information sharing on areas of mutual interest. We look forward to a productive exchange in the years to come, with our appreciation to the CNIL."

CNIL President Marie-Laure Denis echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the global nature of data circulation and the need for international cooperation. "This agreement opens a new chapter of cooperation between the CPPA and the CNIL," she said. "We are looking forward to working together on common research projects, to exchanging good practices or to sharing experiences. Data circulation on a global scale requires such an approach to go beyond the national and European framework."

Michael Macko, Deputy Director of Enforcement at the CPPA, highlighted the commercial implications of privacy rights in the global economy, expressing eagerness to learn from international partners and share the U.S. perspective on privacy enforcement.

This collaboration between California and France represents a significant step towards global cooperation in data protection, potentially influencing future international standards for privacy and data security.

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