Cross-border cooperation strengthened as Guernsey and UK data protection regulators sign MOU

Bailiwick of Guernsey Data Protection Commissioner Brent Homan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UK Information Commissioner John Edwards.

The MoU outlines how the offices will cooperate in several key areas including cross-border investigations and promoting compliance. It builds on a solid foundation of cross-border cooperation between the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA) and fosters an even stronger future partnership.

The signing took place at the most important annual gathering of data protection authorities (DPAs) in the world, the Global Privacy Assembly (GPA) hosted by the Republic of Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission.

“This important strategic alliance between ODPA Guernsey and the UK ICO enables us to strengthen and advance data rights for Bailiwick citizens,” said Commissioner Homan. “It is fitting that this partnership was formalised at the Global Privacy Assembly summit, where privacy leaders come together to tackle the greatest data protection challenges of our time”.

DPAs from 95 countries are attending the summit.

At the summit the ODPA Guernsey lead and moderated a key International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group (IEWG) Capacity Building Session on ‘Mastering Investigation Strategies and Choosing the Right Enforcement Tools’.

Guernsey is the IEWG secretariat and a co-chair of the IEWG alongside Hong Kong, Norway, Colombia and Canada.