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Cross-border data transfer: patterns and discrepancies
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DOI：10.1057/s42214-025-00209-7.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
An increasing number of data policies and legislative models are being developed globally. These complex data laws and circulation models are often competing and have extra-territorial implications, thereby complicating global data management for multinational enterprises. Adopting an institutional logic perspective, this study focuses on the European Union, the United States, and China as key representative economies. It aims to outline the three prevailing regulatory patterns in cross-border data transfer, their evolutionary trajectories, and the institutional logic behind them. Furthermore, the research investigates the conflicts in data circulation across borders among these major economies, examining their effects on the global data governance of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and identifying the universal challenges in current global data transfers. In response, we propose a future research agenda, grounded in theoretical insights, for international business research to address these challenges through the efforts of MNEs and public policy. Un nombre croissant de politiques et de mod & egrave;les l & eacute;gislatifs en mati & egrave;re de donn & eacute;es sont en cours de d & eacute;veloppement & agrave; l'& eacute;chelle mondiale. Ces lois complexes sur les donn & eacute;es et ces mod & egrave;les de circulation sont souvent en concurrence et ont des implications extraterritoriales, compliquant ainsi la gestion globale des donn & eacute;es pour les entreprises multinationales. En adoptant une perspective de logique institutionnelle, cette & eacute;tude se concentre sur l'Union europ & eacute;enne, les & Eacute;tats-Unis et la Chine en tant qu'& eacute;conomies repr & eacute;sentatives cl & eacute;s. Elle vise & agrave; identifier les trois principaux mod & egrave;les r & eacute;glementaires en mati & egrave;re de transfert transfrontalier de donn & eacute;es, leurs trajectoires & eacute;volutives et la logique institutionnelle qui les sous-tend. En outre, la recherche examine les conflits li & eacute;s & agrave; la circulation des donn & eacute;es entre ces grandes & eacute;conomies, en analysant leurs effets sur la gouvernance mondiale des donn & eacute;es des entreprises multinationales (EMN) et en identifiant les d & eacute;fis universels des transferts de donn & eacute;es actuels. En r & eacute;ponse, nous proposons un agenda de recherche futur, fond & eacute; sur des perspectives th & eacute;oriques, afin d'aborder ces d & eacute;fis & agrave; travers les efforts des EMN et les politiques publiques. Eine wachsende Anzahl von Datenrichtlinien und gesetzlichen Modellen wird weltweit entwickelt. Diese komplexen Datenschutzgesetze und Datenflussmodelle stehen oft in Konkurrenz zueinander und haben extraterritoriale Auswirkungen, was das globale Datenmanagement f & uuml;r multinationale Unternehmen (MNU) erschwert. Aus der Perspektive der institutionellen Logik konzentriert sich diese Studie auf die Europ & auml;ische Union, die Vereinigten Staaten und China als zentrale repr & auml;sentative Volkswirtschaften. Ziel ist es, die drei vorherrschenden regulatorischen Muster im grenz & uuml;berschreitenden Datentransfer, ihre evolution & auml;ren Entwicklungen und die dahinterliegende institutionelle Logik zu skizzieren. Dar & uuml;ber hinaus untersucht die Studie die Konflikte im grenz & uuml;berschreitenden Datenverkehr zwischen diesen f & uuml;hrenden Volkswirtschaften, analysiert deren Auswirkungen auf die globale Daten-Governance multinationaler Unternehmen und identifiziert universelle Herausforderungen bei aktuellen globalen Datentransfers. Als Reaktion darauf schlagen wir eine zuk & uuml;nftige Forschungsagenda vor, die auf theoretischen Erkenntnissen basiert, um diese Herausforderungen durch die Bem & uuml;hungen multinationaler Unternehmen und die & ouml;ffentliche Politik anzugehen. Un n & uacute;mero creciente de pol & iacute;ticas y modelos legislativos de datos se est & aacute;n desarrollando a nivel mundial. Estas complejas leyes de datos y modelos de circulaci & oacute;n a menudo compiten entre s & iacute; y tienen implicaciones extraterritoriales, lo que complica la gesti & oacute;n global de datos para las empresas multinacionales. Adoptando una perspectiva de l & oacute;gica institucional, este estudio se centra en la Uni & oacute;n Europea, los Estados Unidos y China como econom & iacute;as clave representativas. Su objetivo es delinear los tres principales modelos regulatorios en la transferencia transfronteriza de datos, sus trayectorias evolutivas y la l & oacute;gica institucional que los respalda. Adem & aacute;s, la investigaci & oacute;n examina los conflictos en la circulaci & oacute;n de datos entre estas principales econom & iacute;as, analizando sus efectos en la gobernanza global de datos de las empresas multinacionales (EMN) e identificando los desaf & iacute;os universales en las transferencias globales de datos actuales. En respuesta, proponemos una agenda de investigaci & oacute;n futura, basada en perspectivas te & oacute;ricas, para abordar estos desaf & iacute;os a trav & eacute;s de los esfuerzos de las EMN y las pol & iacute;ticas p & uacute;blicas. Data is crucial in today's digital world, much like oil in the industrial age. It helps companies improve operations, predict trends, and adapt strategies. Unlike physical resources, data can be used by many at once without losing value, and its worth increases with use. This makes data a key driver of economic growth. Sharing data globally can boost scientific research and business activities. However, as companies access more personal data, privacy and security concerns arise. These issues are especially significant in cross-border data transfers, which can pose national security risks. Different countries have enacted various laws to regulate these transfers, but differences in these laws create challenges for global data governance.This article examines the complexities of cross-border data transfer regulations in the European Union (EU), the United States (US), and China. It uses institutional logics theory to explore how different countries prioritize privacy protection, market freedom, and national security in their data policies. The EU focuses on privacy protection through strict regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The US emphasizes market freedom with less restrictive laws but faces criticism for insufficient privacy protection. China addresses both national security and digital economy development by implementing stringent data localization requirements while also seeking international cooperation for economic growth. The study analyzes how these differing priorities create challenges for multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating across borders.The study finds that while countries are gradually moving towards balancing safety and freedom in data governance, significant challenges remain due to differing regulatory priorities. These discrepancies increase compliance costs for MNEs and complicate their operations. The authors suggest that future research should focus on how MNEs can navigate these challenges and adopt strategies to foster innovation. Establishing a global data governance framework could enhance international cooperation and address current challenges in cross-border data transfers.This text was initially drafted using artificial intelligence, then reviewed by the author(s) to ensure accuracy. Um n & uacute;mero crescente de pol & iacute;ticas e modelos legislativos de dados est & atilde;o sendo desenvolvidos globalmente. Essas leis complexas e modelos de circula & ccedil;& atilde;o de dados frequentemente competem entre si e possuem implica & ccedil;& otilde;es extraterritoriais, complicando, assim, a gest & atilde;o global de dados para empresas multinacionais. Adotando uma perspectiva de l & oacute;gica institucional, este estudo foca na Uni & atilde;o Europeia, nos Estados Unidos e na China como economias representativas-chave. O objetivo & eacute; delinear os tr & ecirc;s padr & otilde;es regulat & oacute;rios predominantes na transfer & ecirc;ncia de dados transfronteiri & ccedil;a, suas trajet & oacute;rias evolutivas e a l & oacute;gica institucional por tr & aacute;s deles. Al & eacute;m disso, a pesquisa investiga os conflitos na circula & ccedil;& atilde;o de dados entre fronteiras dessas principais economias, examinando seus efeitos na governan & ccedil;a global de dados das empresas multinacionais (EMNs) e identificando os desafios universais nas transfer & ecirc;ncias globais de dados atuais. Em resposta, propomos uma agenda de pesquisa futura, fundamentada em pondera & ccedil;& otilde;es te & oacute;ricas, para a pesquisa em neg & oacute;cios internacionais, visando abordar esses desafios por meio dos esfor & ccedil;os das EMNs e das pol & iacute;ticas p & uacute;blicas.
Keywords:
Cross-border data transfer
Institutional logics
Multinational enterprises
Global data governance
Data ecosystem
Journal
J
IF:
4.4
Papers:
207
Citations:
1.1K