1 The BRICS+ Data Context

A New Global Data Order

BRICS+ represents more than an economic bloc—it's the emergence of an alternative approach to data governance. While the Western model emphasizes free data flows with privacy protections, BRICS+ nations increasingly emphasize data sovereignty: the right of nations to control data about their citizens and within their borders.

BRICS+ Member Nations (2026)

2 Data Protection Frameworks by Nation

South Africa: POPIA

The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) is Africa's most mature data protection law:

• Document Governance Required: Records of processing, consent documentation
• Retention: Keep only as long as necessary, document justification
• Cross-Border: Requires adequate protection or consent
• Key Challenge: Balancing POPIA with other African nations' requirements

Nigeria: NDPC

The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 establishes comprehensive requirements:

• Document Governance Required: Classification, retention schedules, disposal records
• Localization: Certain data categories must stay in Nigeria
• Registration: Major data controllers must register with NDPC
• Key Challenge: Strict localization for financial and government data

Brazil: LGPD

Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados is closely modeled on GDPR:

• Document Governance Required: Processing records, impact assessments
• Retention: Purpose limitation, documented retention periods
• Cross-Border: Adequacy decisions or contractual safeguards
• Key Challenge: Portuguese language documentation requirements

India: DPDP Act

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 introduces tiered localization:

• Document Governance Required: Consent records, processing documentation
• Localization: Critical and sensitive data must stay in India
• Significant Data Fiduciaries: Enhanced requirements for large processors
• Key Challenge: Definition of "critical" data still evolving

China: PIPL

Personal Information Protection Law is comprehensive and strict:

• Document Governance Required: Extensive documentation, impact assessments
• Localization: Critical data must stay in China, security assessments for transfers
• Cross-Border: Government approval required for many transfers
• Key Challenge: Most restrictive transfer regime in BRICS+

Gulf States: Saudi Arabia & UAE

Both nations have enacted comprehensive data protection laws:

• Document Governance Required: Processing records, security documentation
• Localization: Government data must stay in-country
• Cross-Border: Adequacy or contractual mechanisms
• Key Challenge: Rapid regulatory evolution

3 Data Sovereignty Requirements

What is Data Sovereignty?

Data sovereignty asserts that data is subject to the laws of the nation where it is collected or where the data subject resides. For document governance, this means:

• Physical Location: Where document storage infrastructure is located
• Legal Jurisdiction: Which nation's laws apply to the documents
• Access Control: Who can access documents and from where
• Processing Location: Where document processing (including AI) occurs

Sovereignty Requirements by Category

4 Document Governance for BRICS+

The Governance Challenge

Operating across BRICS+ requires document governance that:

• Respects data sovereignty (local storage where required)
• Maintains unified classification and file plans
• Applies consistent retention schedules
• Enables collaboration across jurisdictions
• Provides consolidated audit and compliance reporting

Multi-Jurisdictional File Plan

Doc-Assure supports hierarchical file plans that combine global standards with local requirements:

Retention Across Jurisdictions

Different jurisdictions have different retention requirements. Doc-Assure applies the most restrictive applicable retention period:

• Map documents to all applicable jurisdictions
• Apply longest retention period where requirements overlap
• Track jurisdiction-specific triggers (e.g., employment end)
• Document retention decisions with legal basis

5 Federation: The Solution to Sovereignty

How Federation Solves Sovereignty

Federation enables collaboration without violating data sovereignty:

• Data Stays Local: Documents remain in their jurisdiction of origin
• Access is Controlled: Cross-border access is logged and policy-enforced
• Governance is Unified: Single file plan, multiple storage locations
• Audit is Complete: All access logged regardless of location

Federation Architecture for BRICS+

Federation Use Cases

Multinational Contract Review

A South African company needs legal teams in Nigeria, India, and Brazil to review a contract. Federation allows each team to access the contract without copying it to their jurisdiction.

Cross-Border Due Diligence

During an M&A transaction involving BRICS+ entities, auditors in different countries need access to documents. Federation provides controlled access with complete audit trails.

Regulatory Reporting

A group headquarters needs consolidated reports from subsidiaries across BRICS+. Federation enables metadata aggregation without violating data localization.

6 BRICS+ Trade Document Requirements

Emerging Trade Corridors

BRICS+ is developing alternative trade infrastructure that requires document support:

• BRICS Payment System: Alternative to SWIFT, requires payment documentation
• NDB Financing: New Development Bank project documentation
• Bilateral Trade: Local currency trade agreements
• AfCFTA Integration: African Continental Free Trade Area documentation

Trade Document Governance

Trade Federation

Doc-Assure federation supports BRICS+ trade workflows:

• Secure document sharing between trade counterparties
• Bank-to-bank document exchange for trade finance
• Customs authority access for clearance
• Audit access for trade compliance verification

7 Africa's Position in BRICS+

African BRICS+ Members

Africa has significant representation in BRICS+:

• South Africa: Founding BRICS member, mature data protection framework
• Egypt: New member, Gateway to North Africa and Middle East
• Ethiopia: New member, largest landlocked economy in Africa

African Integration with BRICS+

African nations are leveraging BRICS+ for:

• Infrastructure Finance: NDB funding for African projects
• Trade Diversification: Reduced dependence on Western markets
• Technology Transfer: Partnership with China, India on digital infrastructure
• Currency Alternatives: Reduced dollar dependence

Document Governance Implications

African organizations engaging with BRICS+ need document governance that:

• Complies with African data protection laws (POPIA, NDPC, etc.)
• Enables collaboration with BRICS+ partners
• Supports emerging trade document requirements
• Maintains data sovereignty while enabling commerce

8 Implementation Strategy

Phase 1: Assessment (Months 1-2)

• Map BRICS+ operations and document flows
• Identify data sovereignty requirements by jurisdiction
• Assess current document governance maturity
• Define target federated architecture

Phase 2: Core Deployment (Months 3-5)

• Deploy Doc-Assure instances in primary jurisdictions
• Configure multi-jurisdictional file plan
• Implement retention schedules by jurisdiction
• Migrate active documents

Phase 3: Federation (Months 6-8)

• Establish federation connections between instances
• Configure cross-border access policies
• Enable metadata aggregation for search
• Test federation workflows

Phase 4: Optimization (Months 9-12)

• Expand to additional BRICS+ jurisdictions
• Enable trade document workflows
• Implement consolidated compliance reporting
• Continuous improvement based on usage patterns

Conclusion

BRICS+ represents a new paradigm in global data governance—one that emphasizes data sovereignty alongside economic integration. Organizations operating across BRICS+ economies need document governance that respects sovereignty while enabling collaboration.

Doc-Assure's federation architecture is purpose-built for this reality. Documents stay where sovereignty requires; governance remains unified; collaboration flows across borders. This is the future of enterprise document management in the BRICS+ era.