WIC holds seminar on global cross-border data flow policies

The World Internet Conference's data working group held a seminar on A Comparative Study on Global Cross-Border Data Flow Policies in Beijing on March 19, 2025. Nearly 10 experts, including domestic and international scholars as well as representatives from leading enterprises in the data sector, participated in in-depth discussions on the report's findings.

During the seminar, the research team introduced the report’s scope, development process, and key insights. The study analyzed nearly 200 policy documents related to cross-border data flows from over 130 countries, regions and international organizations. It identified three fundamental policy paradigms and, through a comparative analysis of their similarities and differences, put forward relevant recommendations to facilitate cross-border data flows.

In the expert discussion session, representatives from British Standards Institution (BSI), IBM, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), China Mobile Communication Co., Ltd., DAS Security, and Lenovo examined the report’s logical structure, data sources, analytical methods, and conclusions.

Attendees recognized the report as comprehensive and well-structured, covering key aspects of cross-border data flow policies. They noted its detailed classification of the three policy paradigms, including their definitions, characteristics, application scenarios, and evolving trends. The report also provides concrete recommendations to enhance global data cooperation.

A representative from the World Internet Conference Secretariat stated that the research team will incorporate expert feedback and written suggestions from other working group members to further refine the report. The final version will be officially released at the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit in April 2025, contributing to global industry consensus and strengthening international cooperation in the data sector.