When Digitalization Meets Regulation across Borders: An Explainer with Actionable Insights

Abstract

A flurry of regulations has emerged across the world to govern the use, transfer and storage of data, affecting digital and traditional firms, of all sizes. To guide business practitioners and educators, this article provides insights into key components of digital laws and what they mean for different types of firms. We take the European Union as starting point, given its prominent and extra-territorial rule-setting, but also reflect on other cross-border (future) digital regulations. Our analysis of relevant details reveals a need for practitioners to be prepared and forward-looking, considering firms’ specifics, internationally converging ethical principles and (future) digitally-aware generations.