HKCML & AIIFL Joint Conference: Cross-Border Data Transfer
On September 23, 2024, Judge KIM Min Kyung of South Korea convened a conference entitled “Cross-border Data Transfer: Key Takeaways from the European Commission’s Adequacy Decision for Korea (2021) and the Data Privacy Framework for the U.S. (2023).” Judge KIM critically examined the European Commission’s adequacy decisions concerning both South Korea and the United States, comparing their respective data protection frameworks and addressing the legal challenges that arise in cross-border data transfers within the evolving digital landscape.
An adequacy decision serves as a pivotal mechanism for facilitating cross-border data transfers, establishing whether a foreign jurisdiction provides an equivalent level of personal data protection as mandated by the decision-making authority, such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This concept is particularly significant for South Korea and the United States, given their divergent approaches to data governance. South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) exemplifies a robust regulatory framework that has developed to harmonize data protection with digital innovation. In contrast, the United States operates within a fragmented, market-driven paradigm characterized by varying state regulations and an emphasis on economic liberalization. The implications of these frameworks underscore the imperative for international cooperation in establishing consistent standards that not only enhance legal clarity and operational efficiency for businesses but also foster consumer trust in the handling of personal data within an increasingly globalized digital economy. Judge KIM provided valuable insights for jurisdictions contemplating their own adequacy decisions in relation to those of the European Commission.
The event was jointly organized by the Hong Kong Commercial and Maritime Law Center (HKCML) and the Asian Institute of International Financial Law (AIIFL), attracting over 100 sign-ups, including professional scholars, legal practitioners and students. Participants displayed great interest in the subject matter, posing incisive inquiries that not only sought clarification but also critically examined prevailing assumptions surrounding data protection frameworks. This active participation fostered a dynamic academic environment, facilitating the exchange of diverse perspectives and enriching the discourse on adequacy decisions. The collaborative sharing of ideas significantly enhanced the intellectual dialogue on this pertinent topic, enabling attendees to synthesize insights from various jurisdictions, and in turn deepening their understanding of the intricate challenges associated with cross-border data governance and its implications for future regulatory developments.
2024年9月23日，韓國法官KIM Min Kyung作為主講人開展名為“跨境數據傳輸：歐洲委員會對韓國的適當性決定（2021）與美國的數據隱私框架（2023）的主要啟示”的研討會。KIM法官批判性地檢視歐洲委員會關於韓國和美國的適當性決定，並比較它們各自的數據保護框架，探討在不斷變化的數字環境中跨境數據傳輸所面臨的法律挑戰。
適當性決定作為促進跨境數據傳輸的重要機制，確定外國管轄區是否提供與決策機構（例如歐盟的一般數據保護條例GDPR）所要求的個人數據保護水平相當的保護。此概念對於韓國和美國尤為重要，因為它們在數據治理方面的做法截然不同。韓國的個人信息保護法（PIPA）是一個強有力的監管框架，旨在使數據保護與數字創新相協調。相比之下，美國則運行一個碎片化的市場驅動模式，特徵為各州法規的多樣性及對經濟自由化的強調。這些框架的影響凸顯了國際合作建立一致標準的必要性，這不僅能增強企業的法律清晰度和運營效率，也能促進消費者對個人數據處理的信任。KIM法官為考慮制定適當性決定的管轄區提供了寶貴的見解。
此次研討會由香港商務及海事法研究中心（HKCML）與亞洲國際金融法律研究所（AIIFL）共同主辦，吸引超過100人報名參加，包括專業學者、法律從業者和學生。與會者們都對該主題表現出極大的興趣，提出很多深入的問題，這些問題不僅尋求解答，還批判性地探討圍繞數據保護框架的普遍假設。與會者們的積極參與不僅構建出活力的學術氛圍，還促進了多樣觀點的交流，豐富了對適當性決定的討論。對這一重要議題的協同思想分享顯著增強了智識交流，使與會者能夠整合來自不同法域的見解，從而加深對跨境數據治理複雜挑戰及其對未來監管發展影響的理解。
（中文版本僅供參考，請以英文版本為准。）
