Checking in on APAC | Regulating for innovation

In this episode of The Data Chronicles, host Scott Loughlin is joined by Hogan Lovells partners Eduardo Ustaran and Charmian Aw to examine how regulators are rethinking the relationship between AI, innovation, and privacy. They discuss why many regulators view data protection rules not as obstacles, but as guardrails that can support responsible AI development through tools like impact assessments, transparency, and data minimization. Eduardo shares insights from the Global Privacy Assembly, which brought together more than 140 data protection authorities from over 90 countries for regulator-led discussions on AI in daily life, cross-border data transfers, children’s privacy, privacy-enhancing technologies, and other issues shaping global enforcement trends. Charmian, who leads the firm’s Asia-Pacific Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity team, adds an APAC perspective with takeaways from the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules Forum and the region’s growing push for interoperability in data transfers and enforcement cooperation. We also highlight the launch of our Asia Pacific Privacy Legislation Tracker, a new tool that compares privacy requirements across APAC jurisdictions designed to support companies in navigating the region’s evolving data protection landscape.