Standard Contract Mechanism in China’s Cross-Border Data Flows: Legal Framework, Practical Challenges, and Institutional Optimization

This research provides a systematic legal inquiry into China’s Standard Contract Mechanism (SCM) for cross‑border data transfers, as established under the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) and associated implementing measures. The dissertation aims to systematically investigate the Standard Contract Mechanism of China, exploring its role in legal positioning, clause design, implementation effectiveness, institutional defects, optimization pathways, and international coordination. Employing methodologies of legal text analysis, case studies, comparative law, and empirical research, the study will propose pathways for improving China’s SCM and provide academic support for China’s participation in shaping global data governance rules.