Satellite remote sensing is critical for the socio-economic development of the ASEAN region. In 2018, more than half of ASEAN countries had domestic Earth observation satellites, allowing them to enhance their capabilities in disaster risk reduction, land use management or agriculture monitoring. Most nations face similar challenges, in particular hydro-meteorological hazards, and it is legitimate to promote the establishment of regional frameworks for satellite data sharing. However, before even thinking of such mechanisms, it is important for each ASEAN nation involved in Earth observation to develop clear and comprehensive national data policy, providing rules for data utilisation and sharing, domestically and internationally. This paper focuses on the latter, national regulations for satellite remote sensing data sharing with foreign countries and aims to answer the following two interrogations: (1) what is the current state of data policies in ASEAN, and (2) what are the characteristics of a good data policy? The main finding of this paper is that data policies in ASEAN are mostly based on accepted practices rather than on official national policies, but that most countries are currently in the process of drafting a national policy. After providing a brief overview of national satellite capabilities in ASEAN, this paper proposes a comprehensive review of national data policies based on available official documents as well as on extensive interviews with key stakeholders in ASEAN governments and institutions. It then adopts a critical perspective by investigating what should be the components of an efficient data policy based on the needs of various actors as well as on the analysis of an example of simple, transparent and practical data policy: the German Satellitendatensicherheitsgesetz.