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The US-Malaysia trade agreement, signed in October 2025, underscores the dominance of powerful nations in dictating data access for technology firms, limiting national control over data in Malaysia's digital economy. This trend poses challenges for the Global South, where foreign companies increasingly monopolize data and digital services, prompting initiatives like Digital Bandung to foster regional cooperation and enhance digital sovereignty. Recent disruptions in infrastructure highlight the urgent need for collective action among Global South nations to negotiate effectively with multinational tech firms and establish robust data governance.