Protection of personal data: the experience of international regional cooperation

Abstract

The subject of this research is the international regulation of ensuring confidentiality of personal data. The development of “big data” technologies made it evident that for solution of the problem of ensuring rights of an individual as a subject of personal data it is essential to coordinate efforts of interested countries pertaining to the development of effective measures of legal protection. The practice demonstrated that protection of personal data requires a universal approach, which is currently possible within the framework of regional integration that ensure harmonization of legislation through formulation of criteria suitable for the participating countries. However, their own rules in protection of personal data also have the countries of Latin America being a part of international organization the “Ibero-American Data Protection Network”, as well as the countries of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. This article analyzes the international documents developed by the aforementioned organizations from legal and comparative-legal perspective. Assessment is given to the achieved results and development prospect of legal regulation pertaining to collection and processing of personal data. It is concluded that the European organizations are undisputable leaders in establishment of strict control in the sphere of personal data protection, and the documents developed by them are viewed as reference. The concept of “personal data” itself also experiences transformations, acquiring a more extensive interpretation. The rules for collection and processing of personal data that are developed by the participants independently, if coordinated with the legislatively established requirements, obtain substantial significance. Strengthening of control over intergovernmental exchange of personal data is also not excluded.