Brussels Privacy Hub is excited to announce the publication of a new compendium of research papers by its Co-Director, Prof. Sophie Stalla-Bourdillon, as part of CERRE’s flagship project, Global Governance for the Digital Ecosystems. The compendium, titled Global Governance of Cross-Border Data Flows: Operationalising Practical Solutions: A Compendium of Research Papers, is now available here on CERRE’s website.

The collection addresses the escalating intricacy of cross-border data transfer (CBDT) legislation, providing insights into the management of worldwide data flows despite rising apprehensions about privacy, digital trade, and data sovereignty. The research highlights case studies from countries such as Brazil, India, and China, examining how these jurisdictions are attempting to preserve domestic policy spaces while engaging with international governance frameworks.

The collection suggests that the introduction of privacy enhancing technologies (PETs), or better of a relatively narrow category of confidentiality enhancing technologies (CETs), does not reduce nor eliminate the need for CBDT tools.
Analysing in detail two data transfer tools, i.e., model clauses (SCCs) and certification, the collection assesses them as practical solutions for feeding bottom-up convergence. It also offers a roadmap for the development of CBDT tools and draws some conclusions as regards global data governance.

With practical recommendations for fostering regulatory convergence and trustworthiness, the compendium offers a crucial guide for policymakers and stakeholders in navigating the challenges of CBDT.