1.
D A TA L O C A L I S A T I O N
A N D
D A TA S E C U R I T Y
M A R T I N A F R A N C E S C A F E R R A C A N E
P O L I C Y A N A LY S T A T E C I P E
Q E D E V E N T O N “ C Y B E R S E C U R I T Y A N D C L O U D C O M P U T I N G ”
2 6 A P R I L 2 0 1 6

2.
A TA X O N O M Y O F D A TA L O C A L I S A T I O N
Definition: a Government imposed restriction that results in the
localisation of data within a certain jurisdiction.
Categorization:
1. Strict data localisation:
• Local storage
• Local storage and processing
• Local storage, processing and access (i.e. ban to transfer)
2. Conditional flow regime.

3.
P R O T E C T I O N I S M 2 . 0
Source: ECIPE Digital Trade Estimates database - To be released in September 2016.
Note: The graph does not include conditional flow requirements and measures whose date of entry into force is unknown.
0"
10"
20"
30"
40"
50"
60"
70"
80"
1961" 1966" 1971" 1976" 1981" 1986" 1991" 1996" 2001" 2006" 2011" 2016"
The$evolu)on$of$data$localisa)on$measures$

4.
DOES DATA LOCALISATION INCREASE SECURITY?
Myth: Data security is a function of where the data is
physically located.

5.
DOES DATA LOCALISATION INCREASE SECURITY?
Data can be
accessed from any
location,
independently from
where the IP address
is located.

6.
DOES DATA LOCALISATION INCREASE SECURITY?
More control of the implementing jurisdiction…

7.
THE COST OF DATA LOCALISATION
Source: The cost of data localisation: Friendly Fire on Economic Recovery.
ECIPE Occasional Paper No.8/2014.

8.
THE COST OF DATA LOCALISATION
Source: The cost of data localisation: Friendly Fire on Economic Recovery.
ECIPE Occasional Paper No.8/2014.

9.
THE COST OF DATA LOCALISATION
Source: The cost of data localisation: Friendly Fire on Economic Recovery.
ECIPE Occasional Paper No.8/2014.

10.
THE COST OF DATA LOCALISATION
Source: The cost of data localisation: Friendly Fire on Economic Recovery.
ECIPE Occasional Paper No.8/2014.

11.
1. Market access commitment: any data localisation
measure which imposed a ban to transfer infringes such
commitment.
2. National treatment rules: any data localisation measure
requiring a foreign supplier to build new servers or use
local servers gives a competitive advantage to local
suppliers.
G A T S C O M M I T M E N T S

12.
Exceptions: inter alia, national security, data privacy, fraud
and safety, etc.
—> Necessity test: there is no reasonably available WTO-
consistent alternative (US-Gambling dispute)
—> Burden of demonstration.
G A T S C O M M I T M E N T S

13.
F R E E T R A D E A G R E E M E N T S 2 . 0
Trans-Pacific Partnership:
Art. 14.13: “No party shall require a covered person to use or
locate computer facilities in that Party’s territory as a
condition of conducting business in that territory”
Exceptions:
1. Carve-out on financial services;
2. “Legitimate policy objective”

14.
TTIP?
TiSA?
F R E E T R A D E A G R E E M E N T S 2 . 0

15.
M A R T I N A F R A N C E S C A F E R R A C A N E
E M A I L : M A R T I N A . F E R R A C A N E @ E C I P E . O R G
THANK YOU!