Trade in Services as Transboundary Data Regulation

This research falls at the intersection of the “data, economy and society” and the “digitalization, security and democracy” core research areas. It aims to tackle the consequences of cross-border data flows on democracy and individual’s security, while underlining the economic potential of this data. The research also exists in continuation of CIGI’s two essay series on Data Governance (Centre for International Governance Innovation, 2018, 2024).
Trade in services regulation, despite its intrinsic focus on regulating data flows (Marchetti & Mavroidis, 2011), has failed to keep up with the evolution of the data landscape (Leblond, 2024). Even the CUSMA, which was lauded for expanding the scope of trade issues in emerging legislative areas (Gagné & Rioux, 2022), lays the responsibility for data governance with domestic governments (Chapter 19 – Digital Trade, 2020). This lack of regulatory action has also created a measurement gap, with little data available on the volume and value of data flows (Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, 2016). Considering the looming CUSMA review and the chaotic trade environment, this research will attempt to map the “trade in data” landscape to inform trade policy, providing a pathway for governments, notably Canada’s, to protect their citizen’s privacy across borders.

Faculty Supervisor:

Kenneth Jackson

Student:

Partner:

Centre for International Governance Innovation

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Wilfrid Laurier University

Program: