The International Working Group on Data Protection in Telecommunications, the so-called "Berlin Group", has published a working paper on cloud computing in the wake of its 51st meeting in Sopot (Poland) last week.

The "Sopot Memorandum" on privacy and data protection issues in cloud computing emphasizes that cloud computing must not lead to a lowering of data protection standards as compared to conventional data processing. The paper lists recommendations and gives guidance on best practices to enhance privacy and security in cloud environments. The group urges cloud providers to develop practices in order to offer greater transparency, security and accountability of their infrastructure and contractual clauses.

The Berlin Group strongly supports research activities like the TClouds project to push privacy by design technologies and legal guidance in order to achieve a higher level of trust in public clouds.

Download Sopot Memorandum here.