News release
Commissioner Dufresne concludes G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities Roundtable following successful year of collaboration
December 10, 2025 – Gatineau, QC
Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne hosted a virtual meeting of the 2025 G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities Roundtable (G7 DPA Roundtable) this week, concluding his year as host of the Roundtable in the context of Canada’s G7 presidency.
During the two-day meeting, participating data protection and privacy authorities (DPAs) reflected on what has been a productive year of collaboration under the theme Championing privacy in a digital age: Collective action today for a trusted tomorrow. Discussions centered around progress made throughout the year under the three pillars of the 2025 Action Plan to strengthen privacy and data protection:
- Moving data across borders safely and responsibly: The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and Germany’s Federal Data Protection Authority co‑led the Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) Working Group, which examined practical ways to achieve a high level of data protection while facilitating international data flows. DFFT helps companies expand globally by helping them navigate the rules in different countries. For Canadians, this helps ensure that personal information is handled responsibly, even when transferred across international borders. For governments, it provides a way to safeguard national security and intellectual property.
- Strengthening trust in new technology: Under the leadership of the UK ICO, the Emerging Technologies Working Group examined how to promote the development and use of new technologies in ways that reinforce trust and respect privacy and data protection principles. This includes advancing work on artificial intelligence, third-party service providers, online tracking technology in connected home devices and children’s privacy.
- Enforcement cooperation: Co‑chaired by the United States’ Federal Trade Commission and the Personal Information Protection Commission of Japan (PPC), the Enforcement Cooperation Working Group designed mechanisms and practical methods to improve cooperation in enforcement actions across jurisdictions.
On the sidelines of the virtual meeting, Commissioner Dufresne signed a declaration of cooperation with Marie-Laure Denis, President of France’s Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL), and a memorandum of cooperation with Dr. Tezuka Satoru, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission of Japan. The agreements facilitate information sharing between their respective Offices, allowing them to respond more effectively to emerging privacy risks.
The G7 DPAs welcomed the G7 2025 Industry, Digital and Technology Ministerial Declaration of December 9, 2025, which notes their commitment to “promote a human-centric approach and create an enabling environment for the widespread adoption of secure, responsible and trustworthy AI.” This includes seeking “to promote AI that drives innovation and growth and benefits people, mitigates negative externalities, promotes our economic and national security, respects applicable legal frameworks, including human rights, and is enabled through Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT).”
During the meeting, the DPAs adopted a position paper on DFFT, as well as the Action Plan for 2026 that commits to continuing to foster trust and support innovation that protects privacy, especially for children.
The meeting concluded with Commissioner Dufresne handing over the host role for the 2026 G7 DPA Roundtable to the President of France’s Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL).
Quote
“As personal data moves around the world at unprecedented speed and scale, international collaboration is essential. Working together helps data protection authorities address global privacy challenges and advance common standards, which can provide greater consistency for organizations operating across multiple jurisdictions and consistent protections for individuals. I look forward to continuing to work with my G7 counterparts to advance the fundamental right to privacy of individuals across jurisdictions in an ever-evolving digital environment.”
Philippe Dufresne
Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Related links
- 2026 G7 DPA Roundtable Action Plan
- Position paper: Data free flow with trust (DFFT)
- G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities Roundtable
- Communiqué: Championing privacy in a digital age: Collective action today for a trusted tomorrow
- Statement: Promoting Responsible Innovation and Protecting Children by Prioritizing Privacy
- Declaration of Cooperation with the Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL)
- Memorandum of Cooperation with the Personal Information Protection Commission of Japan
Media contact
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
communications@priv.gc.ca
- Date modified: