CPPA Announces Cooperation with French Data Protection Authority

News:

PARIS, FRANCE – Earlier today, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) and the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL-France) signed a declaration of cooperation allowing both authorities to collaborate on their efforts to safeguard personal information and advance privacy. The agencies signed the declaration during an in-person meeting in Paris, with Executive Director Ashkan Soltani signing on behalf of the CPPA and Chairperson Marie-Laure Denis signing on behalf of the CNIL.

California law, French law, and the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union all encourage international collaboration on privacy protections. This declaration establishes a general framework of cooperation to facilitate joint internal research and education related to new technologies and data protection issues, share best practices, and convene periodic meetings.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is the first comprehensive consumer privacy law in the United States, giving California consumers several rights including the rights to access, delete, and stop the sale of their personal information. In 2020, California voters approved Proposition 24, the California Privacy Rights Act, which expanded these rights and created the California Privacy Protection Agency as the first independent data protection authority in the United States. Similarly, the CNIL is France’s independent data protection authority.

This declaration of cooperation is the CPPA’s latest example of cross-border collaboration. The CPPA previously joined the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) and the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN). In 2022, the Global Privacy Assembly voted to admit the CPPA as a full voting member and only second US organization to be granted this status. Just last year, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) issued an adequacy determination establishing the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018’s equivalence with the DIFC’s Data Protection Law.

“We’re excited to collaborate with the CNIL and pave the way for information sharing on areas of mutual interest,” said Ashkan Soltani, Executive Director of the CPPA. “We look forward to a productive exchange in the years to come, with our appreciation to the CNIL.”

“This agreement opens a new chapter of cooperation between the CPPA and the CNIL. We are looking forward to working together on common research projects, to exchanging good practices or to sharing experiences. Data circulation on a global scale requires such an approach to go beyond the national and European framework.” said Marie-Laure Denis, President of the CNIL.

Michael Macko, Deputy Director of Enforcement at the CPPA, also praised the collaboration. “Privacy rights are a commercial reality in our global economy,” said Macko. “Our Enforcement Division welcomes opportunities to learn from our international partners and share our US perspective, and we’re going to learn as much as we can from each other to advance our enforcement priorities.”

Contact: press@cppa.ca.gov