On 28 January each year, Data Protection Day is celebrated worldwide, focusing on raising awareness and promoting best practices. Data privacy is part of the GSMA digital rights and protection advocacy themes in which we advocate smart data privacy laws and harmonised cross-border data flows. This blog reflects on key highlights throughout 2024 and our continued 2025 ambition to support stakeholders.
Connectivity for Good
Acknowledging the shared goals of attracting digital investment, encouraging innovation and building digital trust, the ninth edition of the Mobile Policy Handbook is an effort by the GSMA on the essential topics and the collective view of mobile network operators worldwide. Our goal with the Handbook is to signpost good practice and provide an index of resources for those who want to maximise the value of digital connectivity in their respective regions and markets. Under the consumer protection section, we outlined, amongst others, the industry position on cross-border data flows, data privacy, and responsible AI. We will continue collaborating with stakeholders from across the mobile industry to develop a consistent approach to privacy protection and promote trust in mobile services.
In the 2024 Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA/RAPDP) annual conference, we participated in the panel “Navigating the global data privacy landscape and promoting data flows”. We’ve been advocating for the free flow of data across borders and the benefits of harmonised, interoperable regional frameworks. We will continue to support existing and emerging data protection authorities on the African continent through capacity building courses (provided free to government and policymakers).
The Global Privacy Assembly (GPA) is the premier global forum for data protection and privacy authorities for more than four decades. We hosted a roundtable discussion on “Smart Data Privacy Implementation in the Mobile Ecosystem” in the 46th GPA. We also participated in a panel discussion titled “Regulatory Cousins – How do regulators tackle the challenge of overlapping policy domains?”. We endeavour to continue our engagement in the GPA through bilateral and multilateral discussions.
On the second day of GSMA AI Summit 2024, we participated in a closed-door workshop to exchange responsible AI best practices, discuss AI transformation and address the complexities of regional and global regulation. The workshop provided an opportunity to listen and understand the diversity of AI governance approaches, the importance of aligning innovation with local and regional contexts, and to explore the opportunities and challenges stakeholders face in the AI and mobile ecosystem. The discussions and insights serve as a crucial foundation for continuing our support to stakeholders.
Industry Services and Solutions
We contributed to the GSMA Intelligence Digital Nations in Asia Pacific report. The report developed a new index to track the progress of 18 countries across the Asia Pacific through five key components: people, infrastructure, innovation, security and data governance. In the data governance component, we examined data management based on applicable data privacy legislative frameworks’ data processing and cross-border data flows.
We also contributed to the Africa Digital Policy and Regulatory Index. The report provided an evidence-based assessment of the policy levers governments can pull to accelerate their objectives for adopting digital technology. We examined data protection legislation and cross-border data flow frameworks of 54 African jurisdictions.
Outreach
In the 2024 Ministerial Programme, we engaged policymakers, industry leaders, and experts on the need for international frameworks to ensure equitable and consistent application across digital players through collaboration, adaptability and multilateral engagement. The stakeholders underscored the need for robust regulatory frameworks that balance innovation and data privacy. This year, besides the Ministerial stage, we will convene the GSMA Data Privacy Track, including closed-door roundtables and bilateral meetings with data protection authorities, telecom regulators and industry leaders.
As we celebrate Data Privacy Day, let us amplify data privacy awareness and draw learnings from innovative models under a unified cross-sector collaboration. This resonates with the GSMA role in unifying the entire connectivity ecosystem, driving sustainability initiatives and fostering innovation for a better world.