APEC Cross-Border System Has First Certified Company

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Cross-Border Privacy Rules System is intended to make it easier for international corporations to move personal data among member countries. Under the System, as we reported last year, companies develop their own set of internal rules, which are then certified by an independent "accountability agent." The US was the first country to join the scheme. Since then, Mexico has also joined, and Japan has filed an application to join. Any violations are enforced by an country-specific "enforcement authority," which in the US is the FTC. The first US-based accountability agent is TRUSTe, and it has just now certified its first company, IBM. 

TIP: Companies that wish to transfer data globally may find that the APEC System is a good option. For some companies, it may be worth waiting to see how many of the other 21 APEC members chose to participate. 

This tip has been created for information and planning purposes. They are not intended to be, nor should they be substituted for, legal advice, which turns on specific facts.