In 2018, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres argued that the world is suffering from a “trust deficit disorder.” He described a vicious circle where malicious acts in cyberspace polarize communities, reinforce tribalism, and diminish trust among states. The only way to mitigate these problems, he argued, was to encourage cooperation among countries and internet stakeholders off and online.
I have seen the future of international trade, and it is called DEPA, the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement. With this trade agreement, New Zealand, Chile, and Singapore have crafted a new approach to trade policymaking focused on rules to govern cross-border data flows, facilitate data-driven economic growth, and increase online trust. In December, Canada announced it would seek to join DEPA. The U.S. should too. DEPA is pathbreaking for several reasons. First, the participants see their relationship as a partnership; they pledge to build a digital economy that supports innovation and builds trust in their own countries and globally. Second, they drafted the agreement to demonstrate the benefits of collaboration at a time when many economies are choosing to go it alone or bilaterally because of Covid-19.
This year, America’s digital trade negotiator made a startling announcement at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The negotiator spoke at the behest of U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Kathrine Tai. At the time, Congress and various U.S. regulatory agencies were...
Washington, D.C. – On November 8, 2023, the XR Association (XRA), the trade association representing the growing ecosystem of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality companies, announced the release of a white paper co-authored by the Digital Trade and Data Governance...
We live in an era of data dichotomy. On one hand, AI developers rely on large data sets to “train” their systems about the world and respond to user questions. These data troves have become increasingly valuable and visible. On the other hand, despite the import of...
On January 6, 2021, with the siege of the US Capitol, the world saw the direct and indirect effects of a man and a party willing to move fast and break democracy and global political stability. While we may be slow learners, this lesson will likely push America and Europe closer together. We have been reminded that our democracy is fragile, and we need our allies to help protect it. Throughout disruption, our allies have stood by and encouraged a return to normalcy, e.g. competition and collaboration. But while we may share many norms and objectives, the US and the EU do not share approaches to data governance. Some have even argued that the US, EU, and China are creating separate data realms.
This year, America’s digital trade negotiator made a startling announcement at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The negotiator spoke at the behest of U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Kathrine Tai. At the time, Congress and various U.S. regulatory agencies were...
Washington, D.C. – On November 8, 2023, the XR Association (XRA), the trade association representing the growing ecosystem of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality companies, announced the release of a white paper co-authored by the Digital Trade and Data Governance...
We live in an era of data dichotomy. On one hand, AI developers rely on large data sets to “train” their systems about the world and respond to user questions. These data troves have become increasingly valuable and visible. On the other hand, despite the import of...
Big data analytics is the secret sauce of the American polity and economy—widely utilized but poorly understood. Organizations use various typesOpens in a new window of big data analytics to make decisions, correlations, and predictions about their constituents or stakeholders. The market for data is big and growing rapidly; it’s estimatedOpens in a new window to hit $100 billion before the end of the decade. But the recipe for data analytics can at times contain a hidden ingredient: bias. Not surprisingly, there is evidenceOpens in a new window that reliance on big data analytical processes can lead to divisive, discriminatory, inequitable, and even dangerous outcomes—collective harms—for some of the people sorted into groups. That needs to change.
This year, America’s digital trade negotiator made a startling announcement at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The negotiator spoke at the behest of U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Kathrine Tai. At the time, Congress and various U.S. regulatory agencies were...
Washington, D.C. – On November 8, 2023, the XR Association (XRA), the trade association representing the growing ecosystem of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality companies, announced the release of a white paper co-authored by the Digital Trade and Data Governance...
We live in an era of data dichotomy. On one hand, AI developers rely on large data sets to “train” their systems about the world and respond to user questions. These data troves have become increasingly valuable and visible. On the other hand, despite the import of...
For 22 years, the members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have been discussing how to govern e-commerce and the data that underpins it. In 2019, some 74 (now 86) nations began to negotiate e-commerce. These talks are conducted in secret and little is known about how they are progressing. However, WTO members issued a wide range of public comments on both the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and the Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce from 1998, when the work program began, to the present. These communications provide context as well as a window into the negotiations.
This year, America’s digital trade negotiator made a startling announcement at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The negotiator spoke at the behest of U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Kathrine Tai. At the time, Congress and various U.S. regulatory agencies were...
Washington, D.C. – On November 8, 2023, the XR Association (XRA), the trade association representing the growing ecosystem of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality companies, announced the release of a white paper co-authored by the Digital Trade and Data Governance...
We live in an era of data dichotomy. On one hand, AI developers rely on large data sets to “train” their systems about the world and respond to user questions. These data troves have become increasingly valuable and visible. On the other hand, despite the import of...
Personal data has become essential both to mitigate COVID-19 and to rescue our slowing economy. For example, Google is using its large trove of personal data to track the effectiveness of social distancing. Firms are also using personal data to supply us with goods and services from toilet paper to in-home meetings. Meanwhile, policymakers are using personal data to provide individuals with stimulus checks and unemployment insurance. Governmental bodies are also teaming up with data-sector firms to direct users to testing clinics, inform the public about COVD-19 disinformation or feed workers on the frontlines.
This year, America’s digital trade negotiator made a startling announcement at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The negotiator spoke at the behest of U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Kathrine Tai. At the time, Congress and various U.S. regulatory agencies were...
Washington, D.C. – On November 8, 2023, the XR Association (XRA), the trade association representing the growing ecosystem of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality companies, announced the release of a white paper co-authored by the Digital Trade and Data Governance...
We live in an era of data dichotomy. On one hand, AI developers rely on large data sets to “train” their systems about the world and respond to user questions. These data troves have become increasingly valuable and visible. On the other hand, despite the import of...
From posting photos and videos to tracking physical activity, apps can do almost anything, but while they may seem like harmless fun, they may also pose a threat to personal data and national security. This paper compares the different responses of the United States, Canada and Germany to data risks posed by popular apps such as FaceApp, Facebook, Strava, TikTok and ToTok. These apps and many others store troves of personal data that can be hacked and misused, putting users (and the countries in which they live) at risk.
This year, America’s digital trade negotiator made a startling announcement at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The negotiator spoke at the behest of U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Kathrine Tai. At the time, Congress and various U.S. regulatory agencies were...
Washington, D.C. – On November 8, 2023, the XR Association (XRA), the trade association representing the growing ecosystem of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality companies, announced the release of a white paper co-authored by the Digital Trade and Data Governance...
We live in an era of data dichotomy. On one hand, AI developers rely on large data sets to “train” their systems about the world and respond to user questions. These data troves have become increasingly valuable and visible. On the other hand, despite the import of...
US intelligence and defense officials are increasingly concerned about foreign access to troves of personal data sets. This month, the US Treasury announced new regulations to limit foreign investment in companies that provide data-driven services. Policymakers fear some foreign firms might share that data with adversaries or use it in ways that threaten individuals and the nation.
This year, America’s digital trade negotiator made a startling announcement at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The negotiator spoke at the behest of U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Kathrine Tai. At the time, Congress and various U.S. regulatory agencies were...
Washington, D.C. – On November 8, 2023, the XR Association (XRA), the trade association representing the growing ecosystem of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality companies, announced the release of a white paper co-authored by the Digital Trade and Data Governance...
We live in an era of data dichotomy. On one hand, AI developers rely on large data sets to “train” their systems about the world and respond to user questions. These data troves have become increasingly valuable and visible. On the other hand, despite the import of...
The White House hosted a summit on artificial intelligence last month, to discuss how the US government might use AI to improve its services. The US is not alone; many governments see AI as key to their future growth and development.
This year, America’s digital trade negotiator made a startling announcement at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The negotiator spoke at the behest of U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Kathrine Tai. At the time, Congress and various U.S. regulatory agencies were...
Washington, D.C. – On November 8, 2023, the XR Association (XRA), the trade association representing the growing ecosystem of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality companies, announced the release of a white paper co-authored by the Digital Trade and Data Governance...
We live in an era of data dichotomy. On one hand, AI developers rely on large data sets to “train” their systems about the world and respond to user questions. These data troves have become increasingly valuable and visible. On the other hand, despite the import of...
On September 9, the White House hosted a Summit on Artificial Intelligence to discuss how the U.S. government might use AI to improve government services. The U.S. is not alone. Many governments, including China, India, Canada, and Germany see AI as key to their future growth and development.
This year, America’s digital trade negotiator made a startling announcement at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The negotiator spoke at the behest of U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Kathrine Tai. At the time, Congress and various U.S. regulatory agencies were...
Washington, D.C. – On November 8, 2023, the XR Association (XRA), the trade association representing the growing ecosystem of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality companies, announced the release of a white paper co-authored by the Digital Trade and Data Governance...
We live in an era of data dichotomy. On one hand, AI developers rely on large data sets to “train” their systems about the world and respond to user questions. These data troves have become increasingly valuable and visible. On the other hand, despite the import of...
