A comparative analysis of national information policy in six industrialized nations.

Abstract

National information policy measures in Australia, Canada, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom are examined and compared. Each nation is considered individually in regard to its information resources and data protection, privacy and transborder data flow regulatory activities, as well as to its national information policy initiatives. France, Japan, and the Federal Republic of Germany all have highly articulated national information policies. The goal of both France and Japan is the total "informatization" of their respective societies. Cultural and economic sovereignty is the concern of France, while Japan's desire is economic self-sufficiency and enhanced market opportunities in knowledge intensive industries. The policy focus is somewhat narrower in the Federal Republic of Germany, concentrating on development of the national information market and the information services sector. The policies of Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom are much less integrated. Australia is currently in the process of developing an overall national information plan which emphasizes information services. Canada's policy measures are primarily in the highly focused area of international transmission of information and concern economic and cultural vulnerability to the United States. Information policymaking in the United Kingdom is very fragmented, with a number of public and private bodies involved. The government views information as a tradeable commodity whose provision should remain in the private sector. France and West Germany maintain the most stringent protective measures for data and privacy. Japan lacks any relevant legislation in this area, while the UK has only marginal measures. Australian and Canadian regulations fall somewhere in-between. Development of long-range planning, creation of a productivity extension service, and establishment of a single governmental body to coordinate all information policy aspects are three concepts of great relevance to the United States.