INTERNATIONAL GRAND COMMITTEE ON BIG DATA, PRIVACY AND DEMOCRACY

Building on the foundations set at the first meeting of the International Grand Committee held in London, United Kingdom, on 27 November 2018, we the undersigned – parliamentarians from 11 countries around the world – met in Ottawa, Canada, on 28 May 2019.

Recalling the declaration setting out international principles on the regulation of technology platforms signed at that first meeting – which affirms the signatories’ commitment to transparency, accountability and democracy.

Pursuing the work of the International Grand Committee and focusing on issues related to Big Data, Privacy and Democracy.

Considering the market power arising from the concentration of data in large digital platforms and requiring that they should follow our respective applicable competition and antitrust laws.

Reaffirming that social media platforms should be strengthened privacy rights and data protections, notably through algorithmic accountability and the ethical use of algorithms and artificial intelligence, and regulation may be necessary to achieve this.

Considering that measures should be imposed on social media platforms to prevent digital activities that threaten social peace and interfere in open and democratic processes.

Noting that the public statements by certain social media platforms to address these issues do not align with their actions.

We do declare:

• our unwavering commitment to foster market competition, increase the accountability of social media platforms, protect privacy rights and personal data, and maintain and strengthen democracy; and
• our willingness to continue the work of the International Grand Committee with these objectives in mind.

The following Parliamentarians signed the present declaration: On this Tuesday, the Twenty-Eighth of May 2019 in Ottawa, Canada.