A Trusted Framework for Cross-Border Data Flows

Data has become global infrastructure as the advent of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things shapes digital transformation. The responsible use and trusted cross-border flow of data is now essential to social health and safety, global economic growth, and the seamless flow of data worldwide, all of which can unlock immense benefits. But data flows can also pose risks, and countries can seek to impose restrictions for commercial privacy or national security reasons.

Since spring 2022, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, in partnership with American University’s Tech, Law and Security Program, and with support from Microsoft has regularly convened an independent global taskforce of experts from civil society, academia, and industry to provide proposals on harmonizing different approaches to global data use and sharing, explore the common elements of existing proposals, and identify viable paths forward. Their final report proposes a trusted framework for cross-border data flows that is rights-protective, practicable, scalable, open to democracies respecting the rule of law, and characterized by meaningful privacy safeguards that are enforced through effective accountability mechanisms. Julie Brill, chief privacy officer and corporate vice president for global privacy and regulatory affairs at Microsoft and Karen Kornbluh, distinguished fellow for technology and competitiveness at the German Marshall Fund of the United States co-chaired the taskforce.

This webinar will discuss such a proposed framework and the ongoing progress made in multilateral efforts, including those by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the G7, and G20. The event will begin with a keynote address from Julie Brill followed by an expert panel discussion. Alex Joel, senior director of the Tech, Law and Security Program at American University Washington College of Law, and Karen Kornbluh will moderate the event.

For further information, please contact Brooke Tanner at [email protected].

The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a nonpartisan policy organization committed to the idea that the United States and Europe are stronger together.