In 2017, the International Telecommunications Union reported that almost half (48 percent) of the world’s 7.6 billion people are online. Every day, more people — especially citizens in the developing world — gain internet access. As these individuals supply, demand and send ever more data across borders, they are also creating a global digital economy. As data flows between individuals, firms and governments across borders, these entities process that data, creating new services. Because many of these cross-border data flows are directly or indirectly associated with a commercial transaction, they are essentially “traded.”
Recent Publications
Public Concerns About AI Are Getting Lost in Translation
Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly important role in people’s lives, which has led to growing calls for AI regulation. Although the public has strong opinions on AI, getting policy makers to listen often leads to citizens’ concerns getting “lost...
Do AI Chatbot Firms Practice What They Preach?
This study examines whether leading AI chatbot companies implement the responsible AI principles they publicly advocate. The authors used a mixed-methods approach analyzing four major chatbots (ChatGPT, Gemini, Deep Seek, and Grok) across company websites, technical...
China-U.S. Rivalry Will Split the World into Competing AI Camps
The U.S. and China both put forward plans for artificial intelligence last month. The two have long sought to lead on AI, and their competition has led to technological breakthroughs, lower costs, and wider use of the technology. But as their new plans illustrate,...