In the digital economy era, data has become an important element driving the global economy, and the issue of its cross-border flow has gradually shifted from the technical level to the institutional level. This article, starting from multilateral, regional and bilateral rules, sorts out and analyzes the existing systems regarding the international legal regulation of cross-border data flows and China's response paths. The research reveals that currently, the international community has not yet established unified rules for cross-border data flow, and the overall situation shows a fragmented characteristic. Based on this, this paper conducts a normative analysis and comparative study to summarize the data governance framework that China has established, which is oriented towards security. It then proposes ways to achieve a balance between data flow efficiency and security, such as improving classification and grading management, optimizing the security assessment mechanism, and strengthening participation in international rules. The research suggests that establishing a global unified rule in the short term is difficult. China should, while improving its domestic system, gradually enhance its international participation to better meet the actual demands of the development of the digital economy.
Research Article
Open Access