Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT): A Global Framework to Unlock the

Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT): A Global Framework to Unlock the Value of Data

November 17, 2025

DESCRIPCIÓN

The concept of Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) has become one of the pillars of the global digital economy. Initially proposed by Japan at the G20 in Osaka (2019) and now embraced by the European Union, the United States, and the G7 countries, this framework seeks something as simple as it is strategic: enabling data to flow freely across borders while ensuring trust, protection and sovereignty.

DFFT emerged as a response to a fragmented landscape in which incompatible regulations, data-localization requirements, technical barriers and privacy concerns prevent the international use of data. In a context where Artificial Intelligence, automation and digital services rely on large volumes of information, this fragmentation generates inefficiencies, high costs and a loss of competitiveness.

The approach aims to create a set of common principles that allow governments, companies and institutions to share data across borders without compromising privacy, security, or national sovereignty. It is not a single agreement, but rather a modular architecture of standards, interoperability, certifications and governance mechanisms that ensure trustworthy data use.

At the latest summit between the European Union and Japan, DFFT moved from a theoretical concept to a concrete and operational agenda. Both parties committed to:

Expanding the EU adequacy decision for Japan to academic, public-sector and research domains.
Aligning their data-governance frameworks under the Digital Partnership Agreement.
Launching a pilot for interoperable academic credentials based on the Memorandum on Digital Identities and Trust Services.
Advancing interoperability between European and Japanese data spaces, particularly in mobility, industry and health.

The role of data spaces

The natural evolution of DFFT lies in trustworthy and interoperable data spaces that enable information sharing under clear, automated rules. Europe and Japan already operate sectoral data spaces in mobility, manufacturing and health; the next step is to make them compatible with one another, which requires:

Technical alignment of interfaces.
Harmonized usage policies.
Transparent licensing and data catalogues.
Standardized cross-border consent and portability flows.

A future built on trust and interoperability

DFFT is not just a diplomatic principle: it is a practical roadmap to build an international data economy where innovation, digital sovereignty and security can coexist. If governments, industry and academia move in the same direction, DFFT will enable data spaces to evolve from bilateral bridges into a trusted global network that drives research, trade, public health and technological development.

At this link, you can read the full article published by the International Data Spaces Association on DFFT and the recent summit between the European Union and Japan.