Recognising that free flow of data raises certain challenges, trade ministers of G-20 Sunday called for addressing issues related to privacy, data protection, and intellectual property rights.
Cross-border flow of data, information, ideas and knowledge generates higher productivity, greater innovation, and improved sustainable development, a G-20 ministerial statement on trade and digital economy said.
“At the same time, we recognise that the free flow of data raises certain challenges,” the statement issued after the two-day meet said.
G-20 is a grouping of developed and developing countries. The members include India, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, the UK and US.
The two-day meet of trade and digital economy ministers ended Sunday. India was represented by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
“By continuing to address challenges related to privacy, data protection, intellectual property rights, and security, we can further facilitate data free flow and strengthen consumer and business trust,” the statement said.
In order to build trust and facilitate the free flow of data, it is necessary that legal frameworks both domestic and international should be respected, it said, adding such free flow of data with trust will harness opportunities of the digital economy.
“We will cooperate to encourage the inter-operability of different frameworks, and we affirm the role of data for development,” it added.
India has stated that countries must have the sovereign right to use their data for the welfare and development of its people and advocacy on free trade, should not necessarily lead to justification of data free flow.
The member countries exchanged views on various issues, including the concept of data free flow with trust, World Trade Organisation (WTO) discussions on electronic commerce, and needs for capacity building, bearing in mind the importance of ensuring that all countries are able to realize their opportunities.