ASEAN Beat

Southeast Asia’s Data Localization Push Is a Double-Edged Sword

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ASEAN Beat | Economy | Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia’s Data Localization Push Is a Double-Edged Sword

The policy could stimulate the growth of regional data centers, while also throwing up barriers to digital trade.

Southeast Asia’s Data Localization Push Is a Double-Edged Sword
Credit: Depositphotos

With the publication of the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 (ADM 2025), member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have endeavored to promote the digitalization of the region. In this digital transformation process, data is essential because every interaction in the digital world produces and relies on data.

Realizing the significance of data, Southeast Asian countries have intensified their efforts to develop their own data governance strategies. For instance, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia have enacted comprehensive data protection legislation. Vietnam is also aiming to unveil its full data privacy law by 2024.

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