数字鸿沟视角下跨境数据流动国际规制的困境与应对

Dilemmas and Responses of International Regulation of Cross-Border Data Flows under the Perspective of Digital Divide

摘要: 跨境数据流动与“数字鸿沟(digital divide)”问题息息相关，有效规制跨境数据流动是弥合数字鸿沟的重要手段。当前，在应对数字鸿沟问题上，跨境数据流动的国际规制面临着多边贸易体制的缺位、规则体系碎片化和例外条款适用的严格化趋势等问题。缺少全球统一的数据规则是这些问题产生的共同原因。因此，为了弥合数字鸿沟，需建立“发展中国家友好型”的全球数据规制体系。该体系的建立应当以WTO为平台。中国同时作为发展中国家和数字大国，加紧完善国内数字立法的同时，也需要积极参与全球数据规制体系的建立。

Abstract: Cross-border data flows are closely related to the “digital divide”. Effective regulation of cross- border data flows is an important means of narrowing digital divide. The international regulation of cross-border data flows has several drawbacks concerning “digital divide”, namely the absence of a multilateral trading system, the fragmentation of the regulation system, and the trend of strict application of exception clauses. The lack of a globally harmonized regulation system is at heart of these drawbacks. Therefore, in order to narrow the “digital divide”, a “developing-country- friendly” global regulation system needs to be established. The WTO should be the platform for the establishment of such a system. As both a developing country and a digital power, China should actively participate in the establishment of a global data regulation system while stepping up efforts to improve its domestic digital legislation.