The 9th Asian Privacy Scholars Network (APSN) Conference

Dialogue Between International Law and Comparative Law in Data Governance

National Tsing Hua University, August 15-16, 2024

The 9th Asian Privacy Scholars Network (APSN) Conference, jointly organized by the Institute of Law for Science and Technology at National Tsing Hua University, the Yong Pung How School of Law at Singapore Management University, and the International Law & Technology Interest Group of the American Society of International Law, was successfully held on August 15-16, 2024, at National Tsing Hua University’s TSMC Building.

The APSN has, since its inception in 2010, convened eight annual conferences at prestigious academic institutions across the Asia-Pacific, including the University of New South Wales in Australia, Meiji University in Japan, the National University of Singapore, the University of Hong Kong, and the University of Auckland in New Zealand. This 9th edition was the first in-person conference since the disruptions caused by the Covid, with National Tsing Hua University honored to host this important gathering.

This year’s conference featured keynote speakers Professor Julia Hörnle from Queen Mary University of London and Prof. Graham Greenleaf, former professor at the University of New South Wales Law School and co-founder and senior researcher at the Australasian Legal Information Institute. Professor Hörnle addressed “Individual Data Protection Rights and the Exploitation of Big Data through AI—A Conflict Impossible to Solve? A EU Perspective,” while Prof. Greenleaf presented on “Assessing Global Data Privacy Laws after 50 Years.”

The conference attracted scholars from the UK, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Switzerland, Belgium, Hong Kong, New Zealand, India, and beyond. Participants included prominent researchers from institutions such as Singapore Management University, the University of Auckland, Nagoya University, Geneva Graduate Institute, the University of Sussex, KU Leuven, the Australian National University, Hong Kong University, City University of Hong Kong, National Law University Delhi, and National Tsing Hua University The conference also features notable speakers from the legal and high-tech industries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Keynote speeches and panel discussions covered a wide range of pressing issues related to privacy, data protection, cybersecurity, AI governance, international law, and digital technology. The dialogue highlighted the intersection of international and comparative law in shaping data governance across the Asia-Pacific, fostering meaningful conversations on the future direction of privacy and digital policy in the region.  The conference saw a significant increase in new members applying to join the APSN, enhancing the network’s diversity and expertise. This expansion promises to strengthen future collaborations, solidifying APSN’s role as a leading platform for privacy scholarship in Asia.  We are looking forward to the next global conference, marking APSN’s 10th anniversary.