Risk Prevention in Global Cross-Border Data Flows: Challenges and China’s Strategic Responses

Abstract With the rapid advancement of the digital economy, national security threats and personal privacy breaches arising from the free cross-border flow of data have garnered increasing attention from governments and the global public. Particularly, the high mobility and regulatory complexity associated with data flows pose potential risks to national security interests and public order. This paper initially analyzes the foundational principles of risk prevention in cross-border data flows, evaluates the primary risks involved, and examines regulatory practices from representative countries and regions. Based on this assessment, it proposes countermeasures for constructing and enhancing a risk prevention framework tailored to the Chinese context. These findings are critical for establishing a renewed international order in global data governance and enhancing China’s influence and effectiveness in managing cross-border data flows.