The Impossible Triangle of Data Sovereignty,Data Protection and Data Flow:Taking the Cross-Border Data Governance in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as an Example
As an important issue in the digital age,the governance of cross-border data flows is becoming a hot spot for inter-national cooperation in the digital age.The current world economy has shifted from focusing on the flow of goods and currency to focusing on the flow of information.The seamless transboundary movement of data underpins economic globalization,fos-ters advancements in novel IT,and is pivotal for shaping a harmonious global community.However,there is still an impossible triangle in the cross-border flow of data,that is,the three aspects of data autonomy,data protection,and data flow cannot be satisfied at the same time.How to balance the relationship between the three is an unavoidable problem in building a cross-border data flow governance system.By analyzing the generality and particularity of the impossible triangle problem of cross-border data flows in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,combined with the experience of cross-border data flows governance and its rule evolution represented by Europe and the United States,drawing upon the specific cross-border data requirements of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,coupled with the policy advantages stemming from the Greater Bay Area,the prosperity of the digital economy,and the benefits of integrating domestic and international data flows,this study outlines a three-pronged approach to the cross-border data governance model for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.Specifically,the cross-border governance of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area should be based on the three dimensions of institutional supply,governance framework,and guarantee system,and design a path for the safe and orderly cross-border flow of data.Based on sequential decision-making,pilot first,then promotion.Focus on the pilot func-tions of Hengqin and Qianhai for the free flow and effective management of cross-border data,propose feasible solutions for cross-border data flow in the Greater Bay Area,and then promote them on a larger scale.Finally,based on the perspective of the impossible triangle of data governance,advocate for strategic optimizations to enhance cross-border data flow within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.With the creation of an integrated data flow and security governance sys-tem,and by improving the coordination mechanisms for cross-border data flow within this region as a pivotal breakthrough,we strive to accelerate the development of cross-border data flow regulations with Chinese characteristics,ensuring orderly and secure cross-border data flow.
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area(GBA)Cross-Border Flow of DataData GovernanceImpos-sible Triangle