Our plans and activity

Our Network is informal in nature and we principally act as a platform for peer learning and sharing of good practice, with activity driven by the needs and interests of its Members. 

Our workplan has four pillars which maintain relevance from year-to-year: 

1. Increase and/or maintain active participation

2. Grow membership and observers

3. Improve cooperation

4. Review quality, accountability and profile

There is a recognition that the Network’s ambitions need to be modest given the plethora of other fora which operate and to which authorities dedicate resource. However, CTN is unique in its ability to support emergent data protection frameworks and to introduce the relevant government department – and subsequent regulator – to the global data protection community. For more established authorities, the more informal and ‘peer support’ nature of the network is arguably the defining feature.  

Furthermore, whatever the maturity of a data protection framework, there is a need to regularly review and scrutinize the context for which it is – or was – intended, and to subscribe to the ethos of continuous improvement – from an economic, societal and rights-based perspective. In this endeavour, sharing the challenges of legislative gaps or deficiencies, or barriers to implementation or enforcement, can enrich the work of all regulators.

A popular initiative are the monthly ‘Informal Socials’ – a 30-minute diary slot for any interested Member to dial into a chat to talk about what’s on their mind, or to share ideas and experiences on a topic suggested by one of our Members. 

We hold Quarterly calls with the Membership, and are always interested to hear from organisations working in the privacy field and where there may be opportunities for collaboration with regulators. If you’d like to present to the Network, contact the Secretariat.