As governments around the world increasingly assert control over data within their borders, businesses operating globally face a complex and rapidly shifting regulatory landscape. In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most pressing legal and operational challenges of our time, how to balance the demands of national digital sovereignty with the practical realities of global data flows.

Joining us for this expert discussion are Jahnavi Upadhyay, Vice President (Global Legal), Accenture, and Akshayy S Nanda, Partner, Saraf & Partners, two seasoned legal professionals with deep expertise in data protection, privacy law, and cross-border regulatory compliance. Together, they unpack the legal, strategic, and operational dimensions of data localisation and digital sovereignty in a way that is both accessible and actionable for businesses of all sizes.

The conversation opens with a foundational look at data localisation laws, what they are, why governments are increasingly adopting them, and how they directly impact the way businesses store, process, and transfer data across jurisdictions. From the European Union’s GDPR to India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act and beyond, our guests examine how different regulatory regimes are pulling multinational corporations in different directions, creating compliance conflicts that are difficult and costly to resolve.

A significant portion of the discussion is devoted to the concept of digital sovereignty, the growing assertion by nation-states that data generated within their borders should remain under their jurisdiction and control. Our guests explore how this political and regulatory trend is reshaping global data governance frameworks, and what it means for businesses that rely on seamless cross-border data transfers to run their operations.

The episode also takes a close look at India’s evolving data protection ecosystem, including the implications of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act for domestic and international businesses. With India emerging as both a major data market and a significant regulatory player, understanding its data governance trajectory is essential for any organisation with operations or customers in the region.

For multinational corporations and legal teams, the discussion offers practical compliance strategies for navigating a fragmented global regulatory environment. Our guests address how organisations can build resilient data governance frameworks, structure their legal and compliance functions to anticipate regulatory risk, and engage proactively with regulators rather than simply reacting to enforcement actions.

Whether you are a Chief Privacy Officer, legal counsel, compliance professional, policy analyst, or business leader responsible for managing regulatory risk, this episode offers expert perspectives that are directly relevant to the challenges you face every day. The conversation is a timely reminder that in the age of digital sovereignty, data compliance is no longer just a legal obligation, it is a core strategic function.

Watch the full episode to gain a clearer understanding of the road ahead for global data regulation, and to hear practical insights you can apply within your own organisation.