U.S., Canada Release Privacy Principles of 'Beyond the Border' Plan

The U.S. and Canada released a statement of privacy principles June 28 as part of the joint "Beyond the Border" plan meant to facilitate trade across the border. The principles were developed by the U.S. Justice and Homeland Security Departments and Public Safety Canada and Justice Canada.

Among other things the plan sets out to identify alternate approaches for trusted traders by September, considering new ways to submit advance data elements, including examining whether and how, existing program flexibilities can be enhanced and implement common data sets by December 2013. The principles are (here).

Addresses Data Retention, Privacy Violations

The principles outline how the countries will consider data and information, redresses for privacy violations and the transfers of information to third-party countries, etc.

“The release of these principles is an important milestone in the implementation of the Beyond the Border Action Plan,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. “They represent both the United States’ and Canada’s commitment to sharing information, while simultaneously protecting the fundamental privacy principles upon which both our nations were built.”

(See ITT's Online Archives 12032620 for summary of the Beyond the Border plan).