"Data Protection and International Cooperation in a Digital Age"

The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is committed to providing the highest levels of data protection for European citizens. The ICO has held conversations with regulatory counterparts in Belgium and France to build and strengthen existing partnerships in a spirit of cooperation. To demonstrate its commitment to high data protection standards, the ICO has issued more than forty reprimands and fines over the past eighteen months. In order to successfully protect personal data, the ICO is advocating for the Global CBPR Forum, which aims to promote data flow with trust. Currently, the ICO is providing feedback on the UK's Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, a law that seeks to expand the data protection framework while retaining the same or improved level of protection. It ensures accountability to parliament and the public through reporting obligations and also sets power to the Secretary of State to set ‘strategic objectives’ for the ICO. It also preserves human oversight of automated decision-making. While the effects of the Bill have yet to be seen, the ICO is hopeful that it will not affect the UK's favourability of being granted adequacy with the EU. Through dialogue and cooperation with the European Commission, the UK will ensure that European data remains safe and secure.