Geopolitics and Transnational Data Governance

This editorial introduces a thematic issue that examines the geopolitics of transnational data governance through interdisciplinary perspectives. It explores how data governance—once a technocratic concern—has become a core domain of geopolitical rivalry and statecraft. Contributions in this issue highlight the tensions between data sovereignty and transnational flows, great power rivalry in transnational data governance, the growing importance of informal and plurilateral governance, and the strategic agency of Global South actors. The issue also foregrounds the critical but often overlooked roles of private sector actors and sector-specific governance in domains such as energy, semiconductors, and development aid. By analysing contested norms, competing governance models, and hybrid institutional arrangements, the articles collectively show how transnational data governance reflects and shapes broader geopolitical dynamics.