The report on Comparative Study on Global Cross-Border Data Flow Policies was released at the World Internet Conference (WIC) Asia-Pacific Summit in Hong Kong on April 14. The report was presented by Liang Hao, Executive Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the Data Working Group, WIC, who introduced the background to, as well as key findings and recommendations from the study.

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of 194 policy documents related to global cross-border data flows issued by 136 countries and regions, as well as multilateral and bilateral mechanisms, by the end of 2024. By comparing policies related to data possession, exchange, and reception, the research team categorizes global approaches into three main policy paradigms: the Framework-based Facilitation Approach, the Prudent and Flexible Approach, and the Restrictive Approach. Each paradigm is examined in terms of its characteristics, use cases, and representative examples.

Further analysis reveals that nearly 60 percent of national and regional policies fall under the Prudent and Flexible Approach. Since 2018, there has been a noticeable increase in the Restrictive Approach, with some countries reinforcing security-driven regulations, according to the study. In contrast, multilateral mechanisms and trade agreements tend to adopt more the Framework-based Facilitation Approach or the Prudent and Flexible Approach, reflecting the need for flexible, adaptive policies amid growing global digital interdependence, the study finds.

Based on these findings, the report offers four recommendations to foster open, collaborative, and mutually beneficial international cooperation on data governance. It calls for reducing policy barriers to enable smoother cross-border data flows, and adapting regulation to diverse cross-border data requirements. It also stresses the need to strengthen data subject rights to build a trustworthy data-sharing environment, and drive technological innovation to strengthen governance capabilities.