Is cloud computing really becoming a global market?

The Business Software Alliance said in Wednesday that some European countries and fast-growing developing countries, such as Brazil and China, feared the US would easily access emerging cloud computing markets. As a result, these countries have created barriers to prevent data from crossing their borders, thereby hindering the development of the global cloud computing market.

"European countries frequently oppose the American Patriot Act and use it as an excuse to build more hurdles," said Robert Holleyman, CEO of the Business Software Alliance, in a Wednesday Robert Holliman report on cloud computing. In fact, the bill allows the examination of data in the search for evidence of terrorist activity under the law.

The Business Software Alliance claims to be the most internationalized IT industry organization with 80 members, including Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, Dassault Systemes, Intuit, Intel, McAfee, Siemens and Symantec. The Business Software Alliance, published in its report entitled "Global Cloud Computing Scorecard: Blueprint for economic opportunity", accuses some countries of opposing the size of a free global cloud economy.

Holleyman says they surround themselves with conflicting laws and regulations. Fast-growing Brazil and China are the worst in this regard. Some European countries have also been protecting themselves, take advantage of a number of hurdles to subdivide a potential global market for cloud computing into a potentially "Lu Bei Goldberg Machine" (Note: The Tony Goldberg machine is a mechanical combination that is designed to be overly complex and twists and turns to accomplish some really simple work).

American manufacturers such as Amazon, Microsoft, Rackspace, Gogrid, Opsource, Savvis and Terremark are excited about the prospect of providing cloud services. However, rules and regulations make it impossible for citizens of other countries to use their services.

Germany has a long-standing rule that data collected from its citizens must remain in Germany, making the work of multinational companies in Germany more complex. Since the American Patriot Act allows for potential investigations, Canadian citizens ' health-care data cannot be stored on U.S. servers. France has also banned the flow of data abroad because of concerns about its citizens ' privacy.

The scorecard ranks 24 countries based on policies that allow Cross-border data flows and cloud operations, regardless of where the user is. Japan ranked 1th place. America ranked 4th. China ranked 21st place. Australia ranked 2nd. Germany ranked 3rd, despite restrictive policies.

Holleyman says some European lawmakers are against the practice. They have enacted regulations to prohibit non-European cloud computing companies from waiting outside for local providers to follow. They say they are concerned about the American Patriot Act. But that's a diversion. The fact is that they think the cloud is an opportunity to transform the technology market in a way that helps them.

Holleyman said the U.S. State Department pointed out that there is no difference in practice between European countries and the United States.

The Dutch Personal Data Protection Act (B) contains provisions similar to those of the United States Patriot Act. Similarly, a similar provision is provided in the 5th paragraph of the Statute of Inquiry Authority of the United Kingdom. This is also provided for in article 28th (8) of the German Federal Data Protection Act.

The top 10 other countries also include France (5th), Italy (6th), the United Kingdom (7th), Korea (8th), Spain (9th), Singapore (10th), Poland (11th), Canada (12th). In the middle are Malaysia (13th), Mexico (14th), Argentina (15th). Holleyman said there was a gap between the United States, Japan and Western Europe and India (19th), China (21st) and Brazil (24th). Other countries on the list are Russia (16th), Turkey (17th), South Africa (18th), Indonesia (20th), Thailand (22nd) and Viet Nam (23rd).

(Responsible editor: Duqing first)