Australia: Released stabilised text of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce including measures on personal data protection

On 26 July 2024, the Co-Convenors of the Initiative on E-commerce, Australia, Japan and Singapore, announced that the parties agreed on the stabilised text of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce. The agreement includes measures on personal data protection. Under the agreement, the parties commit to adopting or maintaining a legal framework aimed at protecting the personal data of electronic commerce users. It also encourages the development of mechanisms to ensure compatibility between different legal approaches to data protection, promoting international cooperation and trust in cross-border electronic commerce. The statement is circulated on behalf of the Joint Statement Initiative participants, excluding Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Paraguay, the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, Türkiye, and the United States.