The US AI Health Data Collision: Future of Cross-Border Policy and Biopharma AI

This Atlantic Council issue brief analyzes the critical intersection of artificial intelligence, health data, and cross-border data flow policies in the United States. As healthcare AI advances, it raises significant concerns regarding privacy, cybersecurity, national security, and equity. The report highlights that US cross-border data policy is driven by commercial interests, consumer protection, and increasing national security concerns, particularly regarding potential access by foreign adversaries like China. Recent measures, such as the Department of Justice’s Data Security Program and the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act, reflect this shift. While the US offers diverse health datasets for AI training, regulatory frameworks remain fragmented compared to the European Union. The brief outlines future policy directions, emphasizing the need to balance innovation in disease discovery and treatment with robust data governance. It serves as part of a series comparing US policies with those of the EU and China, aiming to chart a sustainable path for global health and biopharma AI development amidst geopolitical tensions and evolving digital regulations.