News release
Privacy Commissioner meets with G7 counterparts to advance global leadership on privacy protection
October 11, 2024
Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne joined his G7 counterparts in Rome this week for the G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities (DPA) Roundtable, which focused primarily on the role of DPAs in the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI).
In their joint communiqué, the G7 data protection and privacy authorities note that as many AI technologies, such as generative AI, are based on the processing of personal data, the need to protect privacy is “more critical than ever.”
The group released statements relating to their role in fostering trustworthy AI, and on child-appropriate AI, both of which are also reflected in Commissioner Dufresne’s strategic priorities for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC).
In the statement on the role of data protection authorities in fostering trustworthy AI, the regulators note that data protection must be embedded in AI technologies. They also urge policymakers to ensure that privacy regulators are part of the governance structures that are established to oversee the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.
The statement on child-appropriate AI, developed by the G7 DPA Roundtable’s Emerging Technologies Working Group, which is chaired by the OPC, examines issues related to young peoples’ use of AI-powered technology, such as toys and educational software. It also addresses the use of AI to make decisions or evaluate information about children.
The G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities met on October 10 and 11, 2024, in a Roundtable meeting in Rome, Italy, hosted by the Garante per la protezione dei dati personali (the Italian Data Protection Authority).
“With the rapid evolution of data-dependent technologies, we must work together across borders to develop a unified approach towards addressing the privacy implications of these technologies,” said Commissioner Dufresne. “Meetings such as the G7 DPA Roundtable are invaluable to defining issues and collaborating towards common approaches that will promote innovation in ways that protect individuals’ fundamental right to privacy.”
As part of its role as Chair of the Emerging Technologies Working Group, the OPC also led the development of a paper on de-identification terminology, which clarifies how terms such as anonymization, pseudonymization, and de-identification are defined across the G7 jurisdictions.
The regulators also endorsed an action plan for 2024-2025 which commits the members to continuing to strengthen collaboration to protect privacy.
The Rome gathering marked the fourth meeting of the G7 DPA Roundtable since it was launched in 2021 during the U.K. G7 presidency to provide a forum for discussing emerging data-protection challenges and the need for closer international collaboration.
The OPC will host the next meeting of the Roundtable next June, as Canada takes on the Presidency of the global forum during the coming year.
Related links
- Website of G7 Roundtable of Data Protection and Privacy Authorities, Rome, Italy (in italian)
- G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities’ Communiqué
- G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities’ Action Plan
- Statement on the Role of Data Protection Authorities in Fostering Trustworthy AI
- Statement on AI and Children
- Reducing identifiability in cross-national perspective: Statutory and policy definitions for anonymization, pseudonymization, and de-identification in G7 jurisdictions
Media contact
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
communications@priv.gc.ca
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