The United Kingdom and the United States opened a comprehensive dialogue on technology and data, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo and UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Michelle Donelan.
The dialogue builds on an agreement to create a historic bilateral technology partnership by 2021, as well as the significant advancements made in data adequacy between the two countries, according to an Oct. 7 news release of their joint statement.
“The United States and the United Kingdom recognize the strategic advantage of technology as crucial for securing our prosperity and security, and for ensuring our shared democratic values are protected and promoted globally,” the statement said.
Through their joint research, innovation and investment, the two countries enjoy strengths, the release reported. Technology has enabled common threats to safety and security. By working with other stakeholders, the UK and the U.S. can fully realize the advantages of technological advancement that align with their values.
The countries will build on a strong bilateral relationship, working collaboratively on initiatives to facilitate trusted global data flows. Examples given in the release included the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules Forum in which Raimondo and Donelan said they want to remove barriers to commercial cross-border data flows.
They also named increasing trust for accessing data lawfully for law enforcement and national security purposes and countering the influence of authoritarian and protectionist approaches to cross-border data flows, according to the statement.
