Data Localization

Legal requirements that data be stored or processed within specific geographic boundaries, typically within the country where it was collected. Data localization laws exist in various countries including Russia, China, Vietnam, and others, reflecting concerns about government access, economic protectionisms, and data sovereignty. These laws vary in scope—some require all personal data to remain in-country, while others apply only to specific categories like health data or government data. Data localization creates compliance challenges for cloud computing, international businesses, and global data flows. Organizations must identify which jurisdictions impose localization requirements, determine what data is subject to these laws, implement technical measures to ensure data stays in required locations, maintain documentation of data locations, and consider architecture decisions (like regional data centers) to support compliance. Localization requirements can conflict with other legal obligations, creating complex compliance scenarios.