The United Kingdom recently submitted an application to join the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules Forum as an associate.

The Global CBPR Forum works to "support the free flow of data by providing an interoperable mechanism for effective data protection and privacy globally," according to an April 17 news release. This is done through the Global CBPR System and Global Privacy Recognition for Processors (PRP) System.

"The United States welcomes the United Kingdom's announcement today and looks forward to working with the UK and all members of the Global CBPR Forum to promote trusted cross-border data flows globally," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Services Neema Singh Guliani said in the news release. "We know that the United Kingdom's contributions to this body will benefit all partners in our efforts to grow the global digital economy and ensure improved access to vital government and commercial services."

The announcement, made by Susannah Storey, director general for digital, tech and telecoms group in the UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, came on the eve of the forum's first anniversary of its establishment, according to the news release. The UK will be the first new jurisdiction to participate in the Global CBPR Forum since it was established.

The Global CBPR and PRP Systems are intended to allow organizations to demonstrate compliance to internationally-recognized data protection and privacy standards, which in turn allows for the free and secure flow of data across borders, the news release reported.

The UK's application to join the Global CBPR Forum as an associate reflects its commitment to upholding data protection and privacy standards on a global level, the release said. By joining the Forum, the UK aims to contribute to the development of interoperable mechanisms for data protection and privacy, furthering the goal of facilitating the free and secure flow of data across international borders.