History of the APPA Forum

The Asia – Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum was established in 1992 as a network of Privacy and Data Protection Authorities from this region to exchange ideas about the regulation of privacy and new technologies.

Ever since, APPA members gather twice a year in different cities of countries and national economies that are host to the Data Protection Authorities to discuss privately about permanent topics of the agenda such as: jurisdiction reports, data breach notifications, reports by the APPA Communications Working Group and by the APPA Technology Working Group, and global privacy developments presented by the different cooperation mechanisms.

Likewise, new topics related to the respective purview of APPA members are examined in each edition of the Forum. An example of these are: exchange of public sector information, phone scams that involve personal data, voters’ personal data, big data, smart cities and privacy, harmful digital communications, Cyber State, transparency reports, targeted advertising based on online behavior, regulation of public data, management of data resulting from researches made at universities, the use of medical data, ethical dilemmas and best practices, the risk-based approach, portable technology, cross-border trade and the regulation of personal data, among others.

The format of the Forum also includes an open session comprising 1 or 2 keynote speeches and a series of roundtables on current issues where experts, academics and others stakeholders attend. Also, social and cultural activities are carried out.

At the end of each edition of the Forum, APPA members issue a communiqué containing the agreements reached and highlighting the most relevant points that were discussed during the meeting. The communiqués of the previous Forums are available at http://www.appaforum.org/forums/#communiques.

In addition, and as part of its outreach activities, since 2006 the Forum organizes the “Privacy Awareness Week”. This initiative aims to raise awareness among businesses and citizens of the importance of privacy and data protection. Throughout this week, each APPA Forum member undertakes activities such as the elaboration of promotional materials and the organization of seminars and workshops.