On 14 December 2022, 38 Ministers and high-level representatives of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Members and the European Union adopted the Declaration on Government Access to Data Held by Private Sector Entities (Declaration). Although not legally binding, the Declaration offers a level of clarity around the values shared by governments when accessing individuals’ data, trying to increase trust among themselves and create greater confidence for private entities on the protections that apply to affected individuals. The central part of the Declaration are the principles for government access to personal data held by private sector entities when pursuing law enforcement and national security purposes.

This document explores the seven common principles on government access to personal data held by private sector entities as identified in the existing legal frameworks (applicable laws and practices) of the countries that adhered to the Declaration.

The document was prepared within the framework of the SIRIUS Project. The SIRIUS Project has received funding from the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments under Contribution Agreement No PI/2020/417-500.