Bermuda to participate in global privacy forum
Bermuda is to become a member of the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules Forum and its associated Co-operation Arrangement for Privacy Enforcement.
The news came as Vance Campbell, Minister of the Cabinet Office, provided the House of Assembly with an update on the work of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in preparation for the Personal Information Protection Act 2016, which is to come into force on January 1, 2025.
Bermuda has been invited to participate as a member of the forum and its associated body, and Mr Campbell said he had directed the Government’s Pati/Pipa unit to submit a letter of intent to participate as an associate member in the forum before taking steps to update that participation to full membership once Pipa comes into full effect.
Mr Campbell said: “This allows Bermuda to participate in the activities of the forum and to be recognised as a trusted, equivalent jurisdiction.
“Participation in this forum would mean that Bermuda stands side-by-side as an equal partner with the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Korea, the Philippines, Mexico, and Chinese Taipei, along with other associates such as the Dubai International Finance Centre and the United Kingdom.
“This growing forum promotes interoperability between the privacy laws of the member jurisdictions by providing an international certification system that organisations may use – if they choose – to demonstrate compliance with common privacy principles that align with Pipa.
“By participating in the forum, Bermuda would be granted mutual recognition for our privacy rights and standards, ensuring certainty for Bermudian businesses and expanded international protections for the rights of its people.”
Mr Campbell said that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has been conducting a “road to Pipa” implementation programme throughout 2024.
The Commissioner’s next public information session is in mid-July and will focus on Pipa compliance for local businesses.
• For Mr Campbell’s full statement, see Related Media
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