Whose Law Governs Canadian Data?

The CLOUD Act, Executive Agreements and Digital Sovereignty

SPECIAL REPORT

MARCH 11, 2026

Barry Appleton

About the Author

Barry Appleton

Prof. Barry Appleton is a scholar and fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. He is also the co-director and distinguished senior fellow at the Center for International Law at the New York Law School. Prof. Appleton is a highly regarded authority on the convergence of international trade, intellectual property, international economic law, and digital governance. He is the author of two books on the NAFTA and publishes extensively on how digital privacy, AI, digital platforms, blockchain, and trade redefine sovereignty and law. An acclaimed commentator and educator, he advocates for democratic rules-based frameworks in the algorithmic age.