The Privacy Enforcement Network was established to foster cross-border co-operation among privacy authorities.

Our mission

In June 2007, OECD governments adopted a Recommendation on Cross-border Cooperation in the Enforcement of Laws Protecting Privacy.  The Recommendation calls for member countries to foster the establishment of an informal network of Privacy Enforcement Authorities [para. 21]. It further specifies a number of tasks for the network:

  • Discuss the practical aspects of privacy law enforcement co-operation;
  • Share best practices in addressing cross-border challenges;
  • Work to develop shared enforcement priorities; and
  • Support joint enforcement initiatives and awareness campaigns.

In the summer of 2008, privacy authorties began to exchange experiences and discuss the practical aspects of enforcement cooperation via a Web utility.

 

Action Plan for the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN)

Modern commerce increasingly relies on the seamless flow of personal information across national and jurisdictional borders.  Such global data flows occur within the context of diverse and often disparate privacy laws and enforcement structures.  To strengthen personal privacy protections in this global context, it is important that government authorities charged with enforcing domestic privacy laws strengthen their understanding of different privacy enforcement regimes as well as their capacities for cross-border cooperation. Read more »

Members

  • Australia: Office of the Australian Information Commissioner; Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner; Office of the Information Commissioner, Queensland
  • Belgium: Data Protection Commission
  • Bulgaria: Bulgarian Commission for Personal Data Protection
  • Canada: Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada; Information and Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia
  • Czech Republic: Office for Personal Data Protection of the Czech Republic
  • European Union: European Data Protection Supervisor
  • France: Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés
  • Germany: Federal Data Protection Commission; Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information 
  • Guernsey: Data Protection Office
  • Ireland: Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
  • Israel: The Israeli Law, Information and Technology Authority
  • Italy: Garante Per La Protezione Dei Dati Personali
  • Korea: Ministry of Public Administration and Security; Korea Internet Security Agency; Personal Information Protection Commission
  • Netherlands: Dutch Data Protection Authority
  • New Zealand: Office of the Privacy Commissioner
  • Poland: Office of the Inspector General for the Protection of Personal Data (GIODO)
  • Slovenia: Information Commissioner
  • Spain: Agencia Española de Protección de Datos
  • Switzerland: Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner
  • United Kingdom: Information Commissioner’s Office
  • United States: Federal Trade Commission

Apply to GPEN

Request to Participate Guidelines

Public privacy enforcement authorities interested in participating in GPEN should send an "intent to participate" to the GPEN Participation Committee that:

  1. Identifies the name of the authority and the country in which it is located, and indicates its status as a public authority;
  2. Indicates that the authority has the power to conduct investigations and/or pursue enforcement proceedings with regard to laws or regulations the enforcement of which has the effect of protecting personal data; and
  3. Endorses the GPEN action plan, and designates a point of contact pursuant to the plan.

Please forward the requested information to the members of the GPEN Participation Committee (below) with the Contact us form.

Markus Heyder
Counsel for International Consumer Protection
U.S. Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
+1-202-326-2644

Blair Stewart
Assistant Commissioner (Auckland)
Office of the Privacy Commissioner, New Zealand
PO Box 466, Auckland 1140, New Zealand
+64-9-302 8654

Anne-Marije Fontein-Bijnsdorp
Coördinator internationaal/ Senior International Officer
College Bescherming Persoonsgegevens (CBP) -
Dutch Data Protection Authority
Juliana van Stolberglaan 4-10
Postbus/ P.O.Box 93374
2509 AJ Den Haag/ The Hague
The Netherlands
+ 31 (0)70 8888 515

You will be contacted by one of the individuals above regarding your request to participate.

Any questions? Contact us.