Amazon, Google, Microsoft establish Trusted Cloud Principles

Data privacy is a growing concern for many companies as international discrepancies are seen more frequently. The move to cloud technology has led to global organizations navigating international laws, while governments want access to their data.

As a result, HR professionals are often faced with a myriad of compliance issues to sort for their organization.

In response, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Salesforce/Slack, Atlassian, SAP, and Cisco have set up the Trusted Cloud Principles. The purpose of these principles is to protect the data of companies internationally and work with governments.

The mission statement of the principles reads: “The Trusted Cloud Initiative seeks to partner with governments around the world to resolve international conflicts of law that impede innovation, security, and privacy, and to establish and ensure basic protections for organizations that store and process data in the cloud.

“Through this initiative, we commit to working with governments to ensure the free flow of data, to promote public safety, and to protect privacy and data security in the cloud.”

As a result, the Trusted Cloud Principles acknowledges the interests of “governments around the world in protecting the safety, security, privacy, and economic vitality of individuals and organizations that use global cloud services”, while recognizing that “international human rights law enshrines a right to privacy.”

From a legal perspective, the signees have noted that they will “support laws that allow governments to request data through a transparent process that abides by internationally-recognized rule of law and human rights standards.”

Additionally, the tech giants involved have stated that they are committed to “international legal frameworks to resolve conflicting laws related to data access, privacy, and sovereignty.”

Trusted Cloud Principles signatories statement

ZDNet reported that in a joint statement the signatories said: “The Trusted Cloud Principles will help safeguard the interests of organizations and the basic rights of individuals using cloud services so that they can accomplish what they need in a safe and secure way.

“This initiative is more important today than ever…when some governments come directly to providers like us for access to customer data without their knowledge — in some cases for legitimate reasons but in other cases for reasons that could hinder basic human rights — it creates a tension that needs to be addressed through both technology and policies.

“Our Trusted Cloud Principles make it clear we seek to partner with governments around the world to resolve international conflicts of law that impede innovation, security, and privacy, and to establish and ensure basic protections for organizations that store and process data in the cloud.”

For HR professionals these established principles should enable data compliance with more ease, as well as an increased amount of oversight.