Our Policy Work

Public policy can either help or hinder data portability; so DTI contributes our expertise.

The global data portability ecosystem is too often fragmented by a lack of effective coordination, both at the micro level between companies, and at the macro level across jurisdictions. DTI addresses these challenges head on by occupying and ambitiously expanding the center ground of data portability policy. While our goals are relentlessly ambitious, our policy solutions are always pragmatic, practical, and grounded in real-world evidence and application.

Why

Regulation is shaping the portability landscape in many ways. Portability tools aren't built or used in a vacuum; laws set out rules for the technologies, and incentive structures around them. Working on product and policy together helps us deliver 1+1=3 impact: our tools are informed by the policy context and landscape, and our policy analysis is informed by our experience with the tools.

What

We serve as an expert resource to policymakers and other stakeholders on portability, not an advocate for or against specific laws. We are a substantive bridge and a foundation: Just as data transfer tools themselves are bridges between services and a foundation for data protection and user empowerment, DTI as an organization is a bridge and a foundation within the policy ecosystem on portability topics.

Where

DTI works on policy around the world. Historically, most of our work has been in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However we have contributed to policy conversations in many jurisdictions around the world. Often our focus is on alignment and interoperability across jurisdictions: we build globally accessible tools, and work to make sure data portability is a global and consistent right.

How we work

Making an impact through policy engagement

01

Regulatory Submissions

Responses to official government proceedings

DTI regularly contributes formal responses to regulatory consultations, public comment periods, and government inquiries on data portability and related topics. Our submissions draw on deep technical expertise and real-world implementation experience to help shape effective policy.

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02

Panels + Events

Organizing discussions and speaking at key venues

DTI convenes policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society to advance data portability. From major international conferences to targeted workshops, we create spaces for substantive dialogue that bridges technical reality and policy ambition.

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03

Research Reports

In-depth work, in-house or commissioned

We produce authoritative research on data portability — from landscape analyses to deep dives on specific technical, legal, and economic dimensions. Our reports are used by policymakers, academics, and practitioners as trusted references in the field.

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04

Articles

External policy pieces at key milestones

DTI's leadership publishes op-eds, analyses, and thought leadership in major outlets, contributing expert perspectives to the public conversation on data portability at moments that matter.

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05

Blogs

Every two weeks, in-house substantive analysis

Our blog delivers regular, in-depth analysis of data portability policy developments — from regulatory changes to emerging trends — written by the DTI team. It's the best way to stay current on our thinking and the evolving policy landscape.

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From the blog

Recent Policy writing

All Policy Articles

View all Policy articles
Feb 24, 2026 10 min read

Putting a price on portability

Today’s note is a discussion with Tanja Salem on the complex topic of charging fees for data transfers in various...

  • policy
Feb 10, 2026 6 min read

Data portability - it’s not rocket science

Building seamless, secure and scalable data transfer tools is challenging. At what point do effective direct transfers become technically feasible?...

  • policy
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