Opening remarks by the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at the G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities Roundtable

June 18, 2025
Chelsea, Quebec

Address by Philippe Dufresne
Privacy Commissioner of Canada

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I am extremely pleased to officially open this fifth gathering of the G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities Roundtable and to once again warmly welcome you to Canada.

The G7 Leaders’ Summit concluded yesterday in Kananaskis, Alberta. This was the 50th anniversary of the group’s first meeting, in France in 1975, to discuss economic and geopolitical issues.

The G7 DPA Roundtable first met in 2021, and the matters that we deal with are also of vital importance to the international socioeconomic landscape.

Privacy is a global issue requiring global leadership. Your presence is a testament to the value that we place on the importance of collaboration to protect the privacy rights of the citizens of our respective countries.

On May 27, His Majesty King Charles III attended the state opening of the Parliament of Canada and delivered the Speech from the Throne to open the first session of the 45th Parliament.

In his speech, His Majesty The King highlighted the importance of international collaboration, saying that “Canada is ready to build a coalition of like-minded countries that share its values, that believe in international co-operation and the free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas.”

I am equally convinced of the benefits of working collaboratively with partners in other countries and in other spheres of expertise to advance privacy and data protection in this modern era.

His Majesty King Charles III also spoke about how nature is core to Canada’s identity.

This reflects why I chose this venue for our meeting, because I wanted to make sure that you would be able to fully experience the beauty of these natural landscapes.

Canadians have a strong connection with nature, and I truly hope that you get to feel this connection here over the next two days at the Willson House, looking out over Meech Lake below and Gatineau Park around us.

Gatineau Park is a national conservation park of more than 360 square kilometers, and home to thousands of species and plants and animals.

Now managed as a Federal Heritage Building, this house also has an important place in Canadian constitutional history – it was the site of important negotiations between Canada’s Prime Minister and provincial premiers in the late 1980s.

The theme of this year’s G7 Data Protection and Privacy Roundtable is “Championing privacy in a digital age: Collective action today for a trusted tomorrow.”

Data is one of the most important resources of the 21st century – it can support and fuel innovation, and how it is protected shapes our ability to thrive and lead in the digital economy.

The theme is aspirational, but it also speaks to a pressing need for action, as well as to our shared commitment to fostering trust in the digital economy and in supporting innovation that respects privacy, data protection, and other fundamental rights and freedoms.

For innovation to flourish, privacy must be protected. For progress to be made, trust must be reinforced.

As personal data moves around the world at lightning speed and scale, international collaboration and common standards are essential.

In the digital age, protecting privacy requires global coordination. Working across jurisdictions allows us to leverage our collective strength and influence so that we can tackle global privacy challenges and ensure consistent protections for individuals.

As we said in our communiqué last year, for example, our role as privacy and data protection authorities is “crucial in fostering trustworthy AI technologies and helping to ensure that they are developed and used responsibly, in line with data protection rules and principles which also apply to these technologies.”

This group’s discussions since 2021 have focused on making sure that data flows freely, with trust, so that data, and in particular sensitive information, remains protected wherever individuals or their data may travel. At the same time, we acknowledge the importance of promoting the development and use of emerging technologies in ways that respect privacy and data protection, reinforce trust and support responsible innovation.

As I mentioned last night, the G7 Leaders meeting in Alberta have issued statements on AI for prosperity and the future of quantum technology – two important topics on our agenda today.

The Leaders’ AI statement highlights the potential of a human-centric approach to AI to grow prosperity, benefit societies and address global challenges.

It notes that Leaders will “promote economic prosperity by supporting SMEs to adopt and develop AI that respects personal data and intellectual property rights, and strengthen their readiness, efficiency, productivity and competitiveness.”

The Leaders also committed to working together to accelerate adoption of AI in the public sector to enhance the quality and efficiency of public services, while respecting human rights and privacy and promoting transparency, fairness, and accountability.

Sharing knowledge and expertise, jointly examining emerging issues, and working together to advance common standards can provide greater consistency for organizations that operate across multiple jurisdictions. And greater consistency means better privacy protection for individuals.

Our efforts are having an impact.

My announcement yesterday with UK Information Commissioner John Edwards on our joint investigation into the global data breach at 23andMe is an excellent example of how regulators can work together to leverage our respective expertise and resources to maximize impact and deliver good outcomes for individuals.

Data is power and protecting it is paramount. As this new digital economy continues to grow, I look forward to continuing to work with you to develop and champion privacy principles that meet the demands of this pivotal moment for privacy. A unified global stance on privacy sets the standard for a safer and more secure digital world and supports companies as well as citizens.

This meeting will be an opportunity, as highlighted in our communiqué last year, to “assess, evaluate and, where appropriate, re-calibrate” the way that we approach this work, and to identify new opportunities for collaboration, to maximize our impact.

The theme of collective action today for a trusted tomorrow is evident in the program for these meetings.

Our guest speakers today will address both where our constantly evolving technology finds itself now, and the direction in which it may be heading.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to showcase Canadian leadership in advocating for safe, privacy-protective innovation and the development of trustworthy new technologies.

Prioritizing privacy helps to support and fuel innovation. When people have confidence that their data is protected and used responsibly, it supports their well-being today and for future generations, while fostering an environment where businesses can thrive, innovate responsibly, and earn public trust.