Representatives from 14 jurisdictions discuss issues like AI, biometrics, tools for breaches
New Zealand’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) hosted the 63rd Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) forum on 11-12 June, during which privacy authorities from 14 jurisdictions within the Asia–Pacific (APAC) region exchanged ideas on relevant issues and challenges.
Michael Webster, New Zealand’s privacy commissioner, chaired the two-day virtual forum, which allowed the attendees to discuss common privacy issues, privacy rules, regulatory experiences, enforcement challenges, and emerging technologies, according to the OPC’s news release.
“Emerging technologies are an issue we all face, and there are several different approaches to how the associated privacy challenges are managed,” Webster said in the news release.
Issues aired during the meeting included artificial intelligence (AI), biometrics in connection with privacy and data protection, and the importance of aligning privacy regulations with the digital age’s needs.
“The APPA Forum is a great way to learn about the efforts other jurisdictions are making to anticipate and regulate global privacy disruptors such as AI and biometrics, as well as exchanging ideas about privacy regulation and the management of privacy breaches,” Webster said in the news release.
In its news release, the OPC noted that attendees also had the opportunity to collaborate with other jurisdictions and share best practices.
The 14 jurisdictions that participated in the forum were Australia and the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland; Canada and the state of British Columbia (BC); Hong Kong and Macau, as special administrative regions of China; Japan; Korea; New Zealand; the Philippines; Singapore; and the state of California from the US.
On the first day, Webster opened the virtual forum, welcomed the participants, and offered an overview of the agenda, according to the APPA’s communique for the two-day event.
New Zealand’s OPC, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, and BC’s Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner discussed using biometrics to address retail crime and public safety.
On the second day, Webster provided a short introduction. New Zealand and Canada’s OPCs presented on the tools and regulatory responses to deal with privacy breach notifications. Webster then delivered closing remarks to the APPA members.
Established in 1992, APPA acts as the region’s primary forum for privacy and data protection authorities. APPA members convene twice a year – with one meeting virtual and the other in-person – to discuss various relevant issues.
In the past, the forum spotlighted subjects such as cross-border privacy rules, children’s online privacy, employee surveillance, and technologies to improve privacy.
