Publications

When national data policies are harmonized, organizations can more easily participate in the global digital economy. But the process of harmonization is inherently political, as it involves countries aligning their domestic practices with a single set of standards and principles. Reflecting the asymmetry of power in the global digital economy, the data governance choices made by a handful of jurisdictions strongly influence the set of policy options available to other countries. This is a summary of a roundtable discussion hosted by CGD on the issue.

As the organization responsible for setting international standards on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has encouraged countries to design measures that protect the integrity of the financial system and support financial inclusion. But it has also received criticism that poor implementation of its standards can undermine financial access.

The rapid expansion of internet access across the globe is a welcome development, but it raises new policy challenges. And while there is broad agreement in the development community on the importance of getting digital policy “right,” too little attention has been paid to how policymakers in the developing world can best engage with the companies who dominate the digital landscape.