UK Targets Global Partnerships For Data Sharing

The U.K. government on Thursday (Aug. 26) said that the U.S., Australia, Korea, Singapore, the Dubai International Finance Centre and Colombia are initial partnership targets in its quest to realize “data adequacy” for its residents in the wake of its Brexit departure from the European Union.

Officials said they are also prioritizing partnerships with India, Brazil, Kenya and Indonesia to create high standards for data protection and to build on the £80 billion (almost $110 billion) of data-enabled service exports to those 10 regions from the U.K. annually, per a press release.

British leaders said that as much as £11 billion (more than $15 billion) worth of global trade goes unrealized due to data transfer barriers.

“The aim is to move quickly and creatively to develop global partnerships, which will make it easier for U.K. organizations to exchange data with important markets and fast-growing economies,” according to the announcement from government officials.

The partnership announcements are in addition to the nation’s 42 existing arrangements.

“Now that we have left the EU, I’m determined to seize the opportunity by developing a world-leading data policy that will deliver a Brexit dividend for individuals and businesses across the U.K.,” noted Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden. “That means seeking exciting new international data partnerships with some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, for the benefit of British firms and British customers alike. It means reforming our own data laws so that they’re based on common sense, not box-ticking. And it means having the leadership in place at the Information Commissioner’s Office to pursue a new era of data-driven growth and innovation.”

Related news: UK CMA Flags Competition Concerns Over Chip-Maker NVIDIA’s Acquisition of Arm

Data is also at the heart of the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) flagging Silicon Valley chip maker NVIDIA’s planned acquisition of the British chip designer Arm.

The CMA says competition would be hampered if the pairing is allowed, due to NVIDIA’s rivals having reduced access to Arm’s intellectual property (IP). Currently, Arm’s IP is used by NVIDIA competitors that manufacture semiconductor chips and related products.