[Chapter-delegates] Ensuring interoperability of data protection mechanisms and adoption of best practices at the national level

[Richard Hill]

The Chapters Advisory Council Steering Committee has requested that the
information below be posted to the Chapter Delegates list, with a request
for comments.

Best,
Richard

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DESCRIPTION: Here is an exchange of messages on the Internet policy list,
concluding with a question for consideration.

Regarding data protection, here are two points to ponder on:
 1. Companies may have different business models and purpose for information
gathering. But that is rarely articulated for public. Question is: Who is
going to monitor and enforce that companies adhere to the business model and
do not misuse such private information?
 2. In case of private and sensitive information gathering from a subject,
the subject is likely to be aware of it, or should be cautious about it.
However, distribution of such gathered information and its derivative is
beyond the knowledge of most of such subjects. Question is: Should the
distributors of personal & private information be given a free hand?

The answer to both questions may be data protection officials in countries. 

The problem: more than 100 countries have no data protection legislation or
regulations at all. 
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
<http://unctad.org/en/Pages/Home.aspx>  (UNCTAD) is increasingly looking
into this, trying to help the member states from developing countries
evaluate their options to improve national regimes. There's an excellent
report on the subject from UNCTAD at:
 http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/dtlstict2016d1_en.pdf   

This is an area where some think the ISOC community should be far more
active in, ensuring interoperability of data protection mechanisms and
adoption of best practices at the national level. 

The technical community would have real and substantial value to add in how
to match theory of protection with technology in application. 

Question: should we consider recommending that ISOC be more active in this
area, and if so, in what ways?

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