FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, and the Global Shippers Forum have jointly issued a statement calling for improved standards of data protection and confidentiality in digital trading and booking systems. They have published a Charter for Protection and Governance of Data in International Trade that sets out minimum arrangements for data security and confidentiality that providers and operators of digital booking and trading platforms should adopt. The Charter has been approved by members of both organisations as a 'declaration of rights' for platform users in the trade and logistics sector.

The document sets out rights and responsibilities which should be included in user agreements and tackles five areas:

1. Ownership of data supplied by a supply chain stakeholder,
2. Permission to store, transfer or analyze data supplied by a supply chain stakeholder,
3. Duty of care to protect data supplied by a supply chain stakeholder,
4. Obligation to report data loss or unauthorized access to relevant supply chain stakeholders, and
5. Obligations for "Big Transport".

FIATA's Director General, Dr. St