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Data Governance — LIRNEasia

The ‘Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia’ project currently being implemented by LIRNEasia is focused on the data policy ecosystems in South and Southeast Asia taking into account both formal and informal policy and practice. The project also aims to expend the community of practice of Asian Data for Development practitioners, and enhance the capacity of actors to participate in policy making processes and evidence-based policy influence related to data.

Documents

  • Indonesia Report Launch and Policy Dialogue on Data Governance

    The Indonesia Report launch and policy dialogue on “Indonesia’s Strategy for Safeguarding Cross-Border Personal Data Transfers to the United States Without Compromising Sovereignty or Data Protection” took place on 28 October 2025 at Hotel Ashley, Wahid Hasyim, Central Jakarta. The event was organized by LIRNEasia, together with Northbound Strategies (Indonesia), with funding support from the International Development Research Centre (a Crown corporation of the Government of Canada). This timely discussion brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to examine how Indonesia can enable cross-border data flows while maintaining the principles of digital sovereignty and compliance with the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Law. The event was conducted in both English and Bahasa Indonesia to ensure inclusive participation. The dialogue opened with a keynote address by Alfreno K. Ramadhan, Special Staff to the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) of the Republic of Indonesia. This was followed by presentations from Pranesh Prakash (LIRNEasia) and Ibrahim K. Rohman, PhD (University of Indonesia), who shared insights from national and regional research on cross-border data governance. A high-level panel discussion featured Hendri Samita Yuda (Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Indonesia), Brigitta Ratih E. Aryanti (Mastercard Indonesia), Ardhanti Nurwidya (Vriens & Partners), and Bhredipta Socarana (Centre […]

  • Untangling Data Governance – Sri Lanka’s Way Forward

    “Untangling Data Governance – Sri Lanka’s Way Forward” was held on 13 November 2024 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The event formed part of the Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia (D4D Asia) project, with funding support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a Crown corporation of the Government of Canada.

  • Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia: Sri Lanka Country Report

    This report on data governance in Sri Lanka is part of the “Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia” (D4DAsia) project, which aims, inter alia, to create and mobilize new knowledge about the tensions, gaps, and evolution of the data governance ecosystem, taking into account both formal and informal policies and practices. This report is also part of a broader comparative effort that includes case studies from India, Indonesia, Nepal, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. The report provides contextual information about Sri Lanka’s constitutional and governance framework and discusses laws and policies that promote openness or access to data, as well as those that facilitate interoperability or cross-border data transfers. It also examines the opposite; laws, policies, and practices that restrict openness or access to data. The report emphasizes the significance of data governance in shaping Sri Lanka’s digital future. While some progress has been made through recent laws and policies, much remains to be done. Institutional capacity constraints, conflicting regulations, and gaps in implementation continue to hinder the establishment of a cohesive data governance framework. The Sri Lanka Country Report can be found below.

  • LIRNEasia’s Comments on the Online Safety Act and Amendments

    In August 2025, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and National Integration issued a public notice calling on all stakeholders to submit observations, comments, recommendations, and suggestions on amending the Online Safety Act, No. 09 of 2024, and the proposed amendments gazetted on July 31, 2024. In response, LIRNEasia submitted following comments, drafted by Professor Rohan Samarajiva, Founder and Chair of LIRNEasia. The comments emphasize that the framers of the Act had failed to grasp the unique and novel characteristics of social media, particularly in relation to the viral dissemination of content, limitations on freedom of expression, the vagueness of several offences defined under the Act, and the importance of aligning with existing laws where possible.

  • Forum on Data Governance in the Philippines Highlights Pathways to Inclusive Data Governance

    The Forum on Data Governance in the Philippines was held on Friday, September 12, 2025, at Serenade II, Westin Manila. The event highlighted how data can drive development and serve as an effective policy-making instrument for advancing democratic and inclusive governance in the Philippines. The forum was organized by LIRNEasia in collaboration with Disini Law (Philippines) and Digital Freedom Network (Philippines), with funding support from the International Development Research Centre (a Crown corporation of the Government of Canada). It brought together experts from government agencies, academia, and the private sector to share perspectives and experiences on data policymaking and governance frameworks. Discussions centered on two recent publications under the Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia initiative: the Philippines Country Report and the Regional Synthesis Report. These reports examine the tensions that arise in governing data, particularly the balance between using data to advance development and growth objectives and the equally important task of protecting privacy and upholding human rights. Researchers from LIRNEasia and partner institutions analyzed how such tensions manifest and are addressed across seven countries—Thailand, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Oliver Xavier Reyes, a member of the Philippine Bar since 2002 and former […]

  • Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia: Philippines Country Report

    This report is part of the “Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia” (D4DAsia) initiative, which critically examines how data governance is evolving across the region, including both formal frameworks and informal norms. In the Philippines, the absence of a comprehensively organized legal or policy framework has resulted in a patchwork of approaches shaped by sector-specific laws, presidential directives, and administrative regulations. In recent decades, policies have emerged in response to growing data use, such as updates to intellectual property laws aligned with international practices and the enactment of personal data protection legislation addressing cross-border data processing. Despite recent developments, the Philippines still lacks a unified data governance framework. The only broad measure is the 2016 presidential ordinance on public access to government data. Other rules remain fragmented, addressing specific types of data such as personal information or credit data. This study will examine the range of statutes, executive orders, and agency regulations that govern how data is managed and transferred across both public and private sectors. This report is part of a broader comparative effort that includes case studies from India, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Thailand. The Philippines’ experience highlights the challenges of […]

  • Forum on Data Governance in Thailand Brings together government, private sector, and academic experts to exchange views on data governance in Thailand

    The Forum on Data Governance in Thailand, held on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the Sigma Room (6th floor), Pullman King Power Bangkok, brought together experts from government agencies, academia, and private organizations to exchange their knowledge, perspectives, and experiences on data policymaking and the design of data governance systems in Thailand. The forum was hosted by LIRNEasia (an independent think tank working across the Asia Pacific), in collaboration with the Department of International Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Republic of Korea), Privacy Thailand, and the Institute of Public Policy Studies (IPPS), Thailand.  Funding support was provided by the International Development Research Centre (a Crown Corporation of the Government of Canada). The Forum explored the inherent tensions that arise in governing data in light of competing interests and policy objectives – that of collecting, storing, using and sharing data to support development and growth objectives, and of protecting privacy and other human rights that are vital but can be violated through the release of data. LIRNEasia and affiliated researchers explored such tensions as well as the practical ways these tensions are resolved across seven countries – Thailand, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines. “Data governance” […]

  • Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia: Thailand Country Report

    This report is part of the “Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia” (D4DAsia) initiative. The project seeks to critically examine how data governance is evolving across the region, with attention to both formal frameworks and informal norms. In the case of Thailand, this means analysing how state, corporate, and civil society actors shape the production, access, and use of data in ways that either enable or constrain democratic values. Thailand stands at a pivotal moment in its digital transformation journey, where the governance of data is increasingly central to questions of rights, development, and democratic accountability. As data becomes ever more embedded in public services, commerce, and civic life, the structures that govern its use, such as laws, policies, practices and technologies, have profound implications for inclusive and equitable development. This report contributes to a broader comparative ecort, joining case studies from India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and South Korea. Each country ocers distinct lessons. Thailand’s experience, in particular, highlights the tensions between digital modernization and enduring governance challenges, and ocers valuable insights into how data governance can better align with democratic aspirations. The Thailand Country Report can be found below.

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