Description: Data underpins every aspect of today’s global economy, supporting business operations, facilitating the delivery of essential government services, and enabling international and multilateral cooperation. Despite data’s core role in facilitating economic activity and innovation, mistrust continues to grow. This mistrust stems from the difficulty of understanding data, its nature and level of risk its handling carries. Trust is also eroded by concerns that national public policy objectives, including security and privacy could be compromised if data transcends borders. This fuels restrictive data governance policies and regulatory measures such as digital protectionism and localisation, deepening Internet fragmentation. With growth and development driven by data flows and digital technology, disruptions in cross-border data flows have broad reverberations that can lead to reduced potential GDP gains and adverse impact on the local digital ecosystems. To realise the full potential of digitalisation for inclusive socioeconomic growth, policy frameworks should facilitate the adoption of new technologies and the global movement of data while establishing clear rules and enforcing roles and responsibilities to maintain responsibility over compliance irrespective of locality. Numerous national, regional, multilateral, and multistakeholder initiatives have emerged, providing guidelines for data governance and the role of cross-border data flows. However, this proliferation runs the risk of fragmented approaches where harmonization and policy interoperability are necessary. Without cohesive strategies, the potential benefits of data-driven economies may remain elusive, hindered by barriers to cross-border data flows and inconsistent regulatory frameworks. This workshop will delve into these issues, exploring how to navigate the complexities of data governance. Participants will engage in constructive dialogue to identify practical solutions for harmonizing policies, ensuring interoperability, and promoting responsible data stewardship across borders. The workshop aims to pave the way for a more cohesive and inclusive digital landscape that maximizes the benefits of data while safeguarding privacy, security, and economic prosperity.
Open Zoom
