NOV 23, 2020 | JAPAN
Eight "Data Protectionist" Countries: Intensifying Data Hoarding, Oppressing Businesses
Nikkei, November 23, 2020
Translated from Japanese
Developing countries in Asia are increasingly regulating the international flow of data. Nihon Keizai Shimbun calculated, based on the survey of think tanks in Europe and the US, and found that amongst the 8 countries that have moved to ‘data localization’ -- which imposes companies to set servers and store data within the country -- 5 were countries in Asia. There are concerns raised that foreign companies would be reluctant to make investments due to cost burdens.
Even if it does not lead to an outright lock-in, there are 38 countries, including developed countries, that have introduced some form of restrictions on data transfer outside of the country, such as requiring consent from an individual for the cross-border transfer of personal information. In reality, regulations in each country are very different. Joseph Whitlock of BSA, a trade association comprised of major global IT (information technology) companies, says that "there is an urgent need to create a unified framework to enable the international flow of information”.
Original Posting (in Japanese): https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO66566820U0A121C2EA9000/
ABOUT BSA
BSA | The Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the leading advocate for the global software industry before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members are among the world’s most innovative companies, creating software solutions that help businesses of all sizes in every part of the economy to modernize and grow.
With headquarters in Washington, DC, and operations in more than 30 countries, BSA pioneers compliance programs that promote legal software use and advocates for public policies that foster technology innovation and drive growth in the digital economy.