The UK has become the first country in the world to be granted associate status in the Global Cross Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) forum.

The move will give the country more opportunities to collaborate on international data flows with other countries including the US, Japan, Australia and Canada.

The forum aims to support international data transfers between member countries, safeguarding standards on data protection and privacy.

According to the UK government, 93 per cent of the UK’s services exports were data enabled in 2021 meaning the “trusted flow of data now contributes to the economic growth of the country”.

The government added that transferring customer and company details across countries is an “inescapable” part of modern business and it needs to be done in a secure and innovative way.

“The safety and security of personal data as it moves between countries is paramount, so it’s vital that we work with our key international partners to design solutions that work for everyone,” said Sir John Whittingdale, minister for data and digital infrastructure. “The UK already has high data protection standards in place when it comes to international transfers, and we look forward to sharing our approach on the global stage alongside the CBPR Forum.”

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