Geopolitics in Platform Governance: Algorithmic Sovereignty and Data Localization in China and the United States

Previous research on platform governance often focuses on issues such as moderation, misinformation, and privacy, with little attention to its geopolitical dimensions. This study bridges the gap by analyzing the governance of Chinese platforms through a geopolitical lens, focusing on China's regulatory actions against Didi Chuxing and the US government's attempt to ban TikTok. Our findings suggest that national security and economic competitiveness are drivers of platform governance. We further identify algorithmic sovereignty and data localization as core mechanisms underpinning an emerging governance framework centered on sovereign control. Building on these insights, the study proposes a novel framework that categorizes platform governance into four models, shaped by the interplay of security imperatives and competitiveness priorities. The framework offers a theoretical lens to explore how geopolitics shapes platform governance. Our findings demonstrate a reconfigured governance model in which states assert control over algorithmic operations and data flows through territorially grounded regulatory frameworks, while simultaneously deploying extraterritorial measures to project governance authority beyond national borders.

Duke Scholars

Author Fan Liang DKU Faculty