Hello reader, The Philippine government is already working on policies and legislation to make sure that data generated within the country stays in the country. Some argue, however, that such policies and legislation should've come out some years ago. Still, there has been some urgency in this regard, with experts saying that stricter data localization mandates could attract more global hyperscalers - like AWS, Microsoft, and Google - to build more local facilities and boost foreign investment. Building a digital wall around your data comes with its own set of challenges, though. In March, Iranian drone strikes knocked out facilities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. Because both countries have strict policies keeping sensitive government data onshore, the destruction of these sites disrupted several web services, including basic business registrations, for weeks. This concern over war-related destruction also pushed Ukraine to repeal a data sovereignty law in 2022. Yet, momentum toward localization remains fierce. Those in favor of stricter laws argue that clear residency rules give investors the regulatory certainty they need to commit hundreds of millions of dollars to local builds. For this, balance is key, and my colleague Scott goes deeper into what this balance can look like in this edition's featured story. Miguel Cordon, journalist | 
