TPP Deal Puts BC's Privacy Laws in the Crosshairs

Found on The Tyee on Tuesday, 21 July 2015
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British Columbia's privacy laws are in the crosshairs of the nearly completed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. If you're wondering what the heck data privacy protections have to do with trade, you're not alone.

The thing is, the TPP e-commerce chapter aims not only to free the movement of digital goods, such as software or downloadable music, but also to enshrine the rights of companies to freely move data -- including records of financial transactions, consumer behaviour, online communications and medical histories -- across borders.

While closed to ordinary citizens, the TPP is very open to influence from corporate special interests, whose lobbyists have special access as cleared advisors to negotiators. The U.S. lead negotiator on e-commerce, Robert Holleyman, is a former high-ranking industry lobbyist.

The lobbyists exactly know why everything surrounding the negotiations is top secret and has to be kept under control at all costs. Not even the politicians who talk about benefits know what is written down. If the agreements would indeed be that beneficial for the average citizen, it shouldn't be a problem to let them read it. After all, you don't sign a contract you have never read.