Common Thread Network encouraged to further its capacity building engagement following 2015 CHOGM Communiqué
- by Common Thread Network
- •
- 29 Nov, 2015
The Common Thread Network met in Amsterdam in October 2015 in the margins of the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners (ICDPPC). One of the aims of the meeting was to raise awareness of data protection and privacy at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta at the end of November 2015. Common thread leaders agreed a strong statement to further the work on data protection within the Commonwealth, specifically encouraging the development of networks across countries to share information and expertise to build the necessary capacity in the privacy and data protection field.
Following the CHOGM meeting on 27-29 November 2015, the Commonwealth Heads of Government published a Communiqué, which was particularly encouraging for the Common Thread: “Heads recognised the need to adopt legal frameworks that promote privacy rights and to ensure an open and secure internet as well as data protection in accordance with the national laws of the states concerned. They resolved to encourage the development of practical networks that facilitate the sharing of information and building of capacity in these areas.”
Christopher Graham commented that: “With this encouragement from
Commonwealth leaders, our Common Thread Network will work to build
capacity and reach out to those jurisdictions that need to update their
law to include effective provisions on data protection and privacy.
Digital means jobs and growth – but only for those countries that get
the need to do data protection properly.”
Friday 28 January 2022 marks Data Protection Day Data Protection Day, a.k.a Data Privacy Day. This annual event aims to raise awareness of data protection and information rights and encourage good data privacy practice by organisations. The aims of Data Protection Day align with those of the Common Thread Network’s own mission to promote good privacy practices and build trust in the handling of personal data, so as well as marking the day together, our members are undertaking their own activities and events.
Members of the Common Thread Network are carrying out various activities to mark the day. Full details of what is happening can be found on the Data Protection Day - Data Privacy Day 2022 page.
The aims of Data Protection Day fit well with the Common Thread Network’s own mission to promote good privacy practices and build trust in the handling of personal data, so as well as marking the day together, our members are undertaking their own activities and events.
For example:
- The Office of the Data Protection Authority in Guernsey marked the day with a sold-out event for professionals in the field, as well as outlining why all islanders should care about data protection.
- The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada focused on the importance of people protecting, understanding and exercising privacy rights.
- The UK Information Commissioner’s Office celebrated the success of innovative data protection projects funded by the ICO.
- The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario held an event last week to help people understand some of the potential privacy challenges of technology-driven smart cities.
- The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority as the Information Commissioner (the “Commissioner”) has released a short video on the topic of privacy and data protection.
As both jurisdictions are preparing for the adoption of new data protection legislation to bring them in line with the new European Regulation and Directive coming into effect in May 2018, they mutually decided to call it a day on their very fruitful collaboration under the joint ‘Data Protection Offices’. Each office will now be appointing, or has appointed, its own Commissioner, as well as a Board.
The Common Thread Network says goodbye to the Data Protection Offices of the Channel Islands and officially welcomes the Office of the Information Commissioner of Jerseyand Office of the Data Protection Commissioner of Guernsey!
London, 19 April 2018 – Co-chairs Patricia Poku (Ghana Data Protection Commissioner) and Elizabeth Denham (UK Information Commissioner) welcomed participants to the first Common Thread Network (CTN) event on “Privacy, trust and the digital economy in the Commonwealth”.
The Central London event attracted many CTN members and Government and intergovernmental officials including representatives from the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, alongside members of the private sector and civil society.
Alongside introductions from Ms Poku and Ms Denham, participants were fortunate to hear from Simon McDougall, Managing Director, Promontory, and Steven Malby, Head of the Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform, Commonwealth Secretariat.
The event also coincided with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and served as a powerful reminder to Commonwealth Governments of the need to consider rapid adoption of strong data protection laws to drive public trust and growth in the digital economy.
The CTN has presented a statement to Commonwealth Heads of Government, calling on them to respect and promote individuals’ right to privacy in the digital age. It also urges them to ensure that legal frameworks for privacy and data protection include adequately-resourced independent oversight mechanisms.
The CTN also takes positive note of the Commonwealth Cyber Declaration adopted by Heads of Government of the Commonwealth. The Declaration recognises the importance of “strengthening data protection and security frameworks, in order to promote public trust in the internet, confidence for trade and commerce, and the free flow of data”. It also commits Governments to “work towards the development and convergence of approaches for internet-connected devices and associated services, in order to promote user security by default” as well as “common standards, harmonised legal approaches and improved interoperability, including through the use of Commonwealth model laws; and commit to considering the potential for further Commonwealth cooperation in this regard, including the possible coordination of common positions in international fora”.
It was confirmed at the event that another meeting of Common Thread Network members would be organised later in 2018.
The Common Thread Network is pleased to welcome the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario as a new member of the Network.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario was established in 1988 under the terms of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and, as such, has a long experience in reviewing government decisions and practices concerning access and privacy as well as decisions and practices of health care providers as they relate to personal health information. It also regularly conducts research and delivers education on access and privacy matters.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario becomes the 17th member of the CTN.
The CTN met on 25 September 2017, in the margins of 39th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Hong Kong, for its Annual General Meeting.
At the meeting, the CTN members appointed a new co-chair for the Network, and discussed CTN recent activities, which included the adoption of the Activity Report for 2016-2017, and the proposed programme of work for 2017-2018.
The Common Thread Network (CTN) is pleased to announce that Patricia Poku was appointed as new co-chair at the CTN Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 25 September 2017.
Patricia is the new Executive Director, and a Member of the Board, of the Data Protection Commission of Ghana. She has good experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Before taking on her role at the Commission, she acted as Head of Data Protection at the London 2012 Olympic Games and more recently as Global Director for Data Protection & Privacy at World Vision International. Patricia holds a Master of Business Administration and a BSc (Hons) degree in Computing Science. She is also a Certified Information Privacy Manager and a Certified Practitioner in European Union General Data Protection Regulation.
She said:
“I am delighted to be have been elected by the AGM to co-lead the Common Thread Network with existing Co-chair Elizabeth Denham from the ICO.
“The practical discussions at the Common Thread Network AGM show that the network is serious about delivering for its members and it will be an honour to serve the interest of the growing membership of the Network over the next three years.”
Patricia succeeds Privacy Commissioner of Canada Daniel Therrien as co-chair, and begins in her new role alongside UK Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham immediately.
Ms Denham said:
“I am sure you will join me in welcoming our new co-chair and wishing her every success in shaping the CTN’s future.
“Daniel and his staff at the OPC will continue to be involved in the development of the network and I want to thank them for their outstanding contribution over the past three years.”
The Common Thread Network is happy to welcome the South African Information Regulator to its growing list of members.
The Information Regulator was established in December 2016 under the terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act 2013 (PPI Act). It aims to promote the protection of personal information processed by public and private bodies in South Africa. The Regulator is chaired by Adv. Pansy Tlakula and has four ordinary members
South Africa becomes the 16th member of the CTN. This is more than could be hoped for less than three years after the network was launched.
This news comes only a few months after the Cayman Islands, one of the networks observers, passed their first Data Protection bill.
The Common Thread Network exists to improve data protection and privacy rights for citizens across the commonwealth. The membership of this influential data protection agency and the implementation of a new law by another are great signs our aims are being achieved.
Several CTN members are attending the annual Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation’s (CTO) Cybersecurity Forum in London this week (22-24 March).
Today, Steve Wood, Head of International Strategy and Intelligence at the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is participating in a panel of distinguished speakers to discuss current data protection and privacy issues. Along with introducing ICO’s forthcoming information rights strategy and international strategy, he will emphasise to an audience of Regulatory agencies, national agencies, civil society professionals and members of the industry from across the Commonwealth, the strategic importance of the CTN in developing strong standards and building capacity on privacy issues among Commonwealth countries.
