Abstract
In the period of opening a new chapter of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) relations, the issue of digital transition and economic cooperation is mentioned as a special concern. Transferring the cross-border flow of personal data is the key to growing the digital economy. However, differences in personal data protection regulations between the ASEAN and the EU pose challenges to the cooperation and economic development of the two blocs. This article undertakes a comparative legal analysis of existing personal data protection regulations in the EU and selected ASEAN countries: Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam, highlighting their respective approaches to cross-border data transfers. The article identifies aspects of normative uncertainty and legal fragmentation that may hinder data mobility and digital cooperation between the two blocs. Based on this comparative overview, the article outlines preliminary considerations for improving regulatory alignment in a manner that facilitates secure and lawful data flows while respecting regional legal diversity.