The Office of Data Protection (ODP) of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) international financial center and free zone, has become the first data protection regulator in the Gulf region to join the Global Privacy Assembly’s International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group (IECWG).
The permanent working group of the Global Privacy Assembly, IECWG was formulated to bring ease and support in enforcement cooperation on live cases impacting multiple jurisdictions. The IECWG is co-chaired by the Canadian Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC), the United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the United States’ Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Sami Mohammed Commissioner Data Protection ADGM
“We are pleased to be the first Data Protection regulator in the Gulf to join the IECWG. The processing and misuse of personal data is a global issue as many of us rely on technological solutions and services daily. It is our responsibility to ensure that the business community at ADGM respects the rights of Data Subjects and complies with our Data Protection Regulations. Our participation and membership of the IECWG demonstrate that we will work with other authorities to safeguard the rights of these individuals.”
The Global Privacy Assembly was first convened in 1979 as the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners. The assembly has been a forum for Data Protection and Privacy Authorities across the world which had more than 130 participating authorities including ADGM and it seeks to provide leadership at the international level in data protection and privacy.
The ADGM ODP was established as a result of ADGM’s enactment of a new set of Data Protection Regulations in 2021, replacing the current Data Protection Regulations of 2015. The ODP aims to promote data protection within ADGM, maintaining the register of Data Controllers, enforcing the obligations upon Data Controllers and upholding the rights of Data Subjects.
