The ‘wicked problem’ of data localisation

Data localisation should be seen as a sign of the current political climate; as the internet grows, so does its ability to empower users, hold governments accountable, and call into question much of the status quo. At the same time, governments are becoming increasingly savvy in their use of the internet to monitor the actions of users, both within their own countries and in others. Edward Snowden's 2013 revelations regarding the U.S. government's secret surveillance programme made other governments realise the potential of utilising the internet as a means to collect, analyse, and store data. It is under this purview that we will discuss data localisation. The main question of which we should keep reminding ourselves is why, in the face of clear evidence regarding the detrimental impact of data localisation in a country, a government would still opt for such a measure. The answer is to be found in power.