The data economy’s intrinsic complexity and the pressing need to foster digital inclusion and transformation demand an approach that moves the discussion beyond the ideas of open and closed, free flow, and localization. Global challenges push us – as a society – to consider an array of governance arrangements that can support rights-respecting technology and government and market interventions while allowing for innovation and development. 

With that in mind, holistic data governance needs to address issues across the data life cycle, the interactions between human groups and systems, and our shared values that translate into norms and rules that enable trust and cooperation.

Such a framework must transcend organizational silos and uphold fundamental rights, serving as a cornerstone for equitable societal progress. By fostering alignment across various sectors and stakeholders, a cohesive data governance strategy should unlock myriad opportunities for societal advancement and ensure fair access to and responsible utilization of data resources.

To support this process, the Datasphere Initiative brings the community together and advances knowledge via research, advocacy, and experimentation. We have embarked on a journey to unlock the value of data for all by proposing a framework that serves as a roadmap for specific and context-appropriate data governance initiatives.

This initial version was the result of a research project that has developed a large bibliography review, a discussion with partners on combining individual and collective strategies data strategies, over 35 sets of data governance-related principles (upcoming publication), data-relevant values within Artificial Intelligence and Digital ID, a sample of national data strategies (e.g., Responsibly Unlocking the Value of Data in Europe), and reviewed the information collected for the D2V Observatory.