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What else, then, if the government complete? A risk-based classification model is the next step in order to facilitate the smooth and safe flow of data across borders.
These systems provide specific instructions on how various information tiers should be managed, according to their safety standards. Organizations will be able to focus their security and protection efforts in such a way that they may divert more resources to allow for the flow of less-sensitive data across borders while allowing for greater safety.
Moreover, Singapore should continue to look for ways to improve data connectivity with other online economies.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) Digital Economy Framework Agreement ( DEFA ), the first regional digital economy agreement in the world, offers a promising opportunity. DEFA aims to align regional regulations for online trade and encourage cross-border cooperation in nine crucial areas of the modern economy, including cybersecurity and cross-border data flows.
Member states ‘ poorly paced data governance legislation is a vital issue to address. Singapore may make the most of the possibility as negotiations progress toward greater data integration.
Singapore must continue to lead in the face of an increasingly disorganized modern landscape, which is characterized by mounting obstacles to cross-border data flows. This will help businesses and people maximize the advantages of information flows while protecting data security and privacy.
Chew Han Ei is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, and Carol Immediately is a Principal Research Fellow. Ann Mak is Research Assistant. They are the creators of a working document based on funding from the NUS Center for Trusted Internet and Community titled Digital Sovereignty: State Action and Implications for Singapore.