APEC Tensions and Possibilities in Digital Sovereignty
Keywords:
APEC, digital sovereignty, digital trade, data protection, digital policies, data economyAbstract
This article aims to explore cooperation within Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on the digital sovereignty of its member economies, in the context of tensions between data protection and digital trade. The article develops the concept of digital sovereignty, to review the digital policies promoted by APEC, and then describe the specific cases of the countries within the forum, China, the United States, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. In conclusion, despite the progress made by APEC in promoting digital trade, there are ongoing challenges that highlight the difficulty of harmonizing digital policies in an environment marked by ideologies and national interests. Data localization policies, regulatory barriers and global technological competition continue to complicate efforts to create a common framework in the Asia-Pacific region.
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