Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) signs MOU with Mexico’s INAI and renews collaboration with Australia’s OAIC to enhance global data protection initiatives.

In a pioneering move, Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) and Mexico’s National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Personal Data Protection (INAI) sealed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 1st December 2023. This virtual collaboration marks the first-of-its-kind between Singapore’s PDPC and a Latin American data protection authority. On the same day, at the 60th Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) Forum in Sydney, Australia, Singapore’s PDPC and Australia’s Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) renewed their commitment to personal data protection.

The collaboration with Mexico’s INAI focuses on developing compatible data transfer mechanisms, facilitating trusted cross-border data flows, and fostering technological innovation. The MOU also encompasses the exchange of information, sharing best practices, and joint research on emerging privacy and data protection issues. Commissioner of Mexico’s INAI, Mrs Josefina Román Vergara, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, emphasizing that it sets a standard for global cooperation in navigating the complexities of the digital age.

Commissioner of Singapore’s PDPC, Mr Lew Chuen Hong, expressed the commitment to responsible cross-border data flows, calling the MOU with Mexico’s INAI a significant step forward in bridging the fragmented global landscape for personal data protection. Meanwhile, the renewed MOU with Australia’s OAIC, signed by Commissioner Mr Lew Chuen Hong and Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner Ms Angelene Falk, solidifies the ongoing cooperation between the two countries. The scope includes sharing experiences, exchanging best practices, and providing mutual assistance in cross-border personal data incidents that contravene each country’s data protection legislation.

Commissioner Mr Lew Chuen Hong expressed gratitude for the existing partnership with Australia and expressed anticipation in continuing and strengthening the cooperation on personal data protection. Singapore’s PDPC remains committed to actively collaborating and enhancing global cooperation on personal data protection.

Source – PDPC