U.K. Calls on EU to Keep on Sharing Cyber Security and Data

Sharing cyber-security intelligence between Britain and the European Union is a key post-Brexit concern for the U.K., according to Bloomberg.

Continuing to exchange such information would "ensure" the U.K.’s departure from the EU won’t compromise either region’s ability to "adapt to evolving threats," according to a government White Paper. Britain’s intelligence chiefs have previously warned that a failure to agree to data-sharing rules after Brexit could threaten security both in the U.K. and the EU.

Data protection is also a key priority. The government suggested the U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office and EU Data Protection Authorities forge a "close cooperation," and that it was ready to begin preliminary discussions. It cited e-commerce and law enforcement specifically as two areas threatened by a lack of a cross-border consensus on the issue. The U.K. government is also proposing that it recognize "equivalent forms of electronic ID" that are secure across the EU and U.K.

The U.K. has previously stressed that the smooth transfer of personal data to and from the European Union is vital for not only European businesses but also consumers. The EU currently offers “adequacy agreements“ so data can be transferred across borders. Some countries, like New Zealand and Argentina, have been deemed as providing fully adequate data protection.

The White Paper stated that artificial-intelligence research should remain collaborative between the U.K. and EU, and that Britain would participate with a European body researching the ethics of automated systems. It also reiterated a number of the government’s known stances, such as that Britain will leave the Digital Single Market.