Overview of DFFT
What is DFFT?
The concept of Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) is to promote the data free flow based on securing trust through transparency, where data useful for business and solving social issues can freely across borders, while ensuring trust in privacy, security, and intellectual property rights etc.
Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) Initiatives
Proposal by Japan in 2019
At the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum held in January 2019 at Davos, Japan’s then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the speech which invited global leaders to build an international order for Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT).
“The regime we must build is one for D.F.F.T., Data Free Flow with Trust--non-personal data, needless to say. It is not the big, capital intensive industries, but rather we individuals who will benefit from both the fourth industrial revolution and what we call “Society 5.0, which this fourth industrial revolution will bring about.”
Then Prime Minister Abe, World Economic Forum in January 2019.
After this proposal, the concept of DFFT has been discussed at multiple international diplomatic forums and also among private sectors.
U.K. 2021 G7 Roadmap for Cooperation on DFFT
G7 Roadmap for Cooperation on DFFT was formulated at the G7 Digital and Technology Ministerial Meeting held in U.K., April 2021, and approved at the G7 Summit in June 2021. In addition, after having approval by the G20 Digital and Technology Ministerial Meeting in August 2021, G20 Summit held in October of the same year reaffirmed the importance and challenges of the DFFT.
Germany 2022 G7 Action Plan on DFFT
G7 Action Plan for promoting DFFT was also formulated at the G7 Digital Ministerial Meeting held in Germany, May 2022 and outlines an agenda that is expected to be continued at the next G7 in Japan.
G7 Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting will be held this year in Takasaki, Gunma, on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30, 2023.
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Towards operationalization of DFFT
Each country has its own view and policies on data and promoting DFFT will require not only developing global rules regarding free flow, but also establishing interoperable systems that consider each country's unique circumstances. As the country that proposed DFFT, Japan will consider frameworks for ensuring that data can be transferred across national borders with trust.
Innovation in Progress
Now there is also progress toward securing trust through technology such as Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs). Privacy is an ever-present concern, but emerging technologies allow businesses to extract value from data without exposing data itself thereby protecting personal data and commercially sensitive information.
We consider the collaboration with sectors and academics with new technologies should be encouraged to promote DFFT.