Working Towards a Holistic Framework

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.

Various elements were identified and categorized into nine macro categories in this process. Each macro-category was expanded to encompass core issues that should be considered when developing a data governance framework. However, this is a work in progress, and these elements are not exhaustive. Click on each element to find some of the topics D2V entities are working on and see how they relate to a macro category of the framework:

Data

Data

Personal data; Non-personal data; Metadata; Sectoral data (such as: Research Data, Biodiversity Data, Multilingual Data, Humanitarian Data, Gender Data and Health Data).

Infrastructure

Infrastructure

Data spaces; Data trusts; Digital ID; E-Gov, Digital Government Transformation; Data Stewardship; Data Cooperatives; Digital Public Infrastructure.

People and Skills

People and skills

Race; Children and Youth; Gender; Indigenous rights; Capacity Building; Digital Divide; Digital Inclusion; Communities; Data literacy.

Systems and Capabilities

Systems and Capabilities

Artificial Intelligence; Extended Reality (XR); Future Technologies; Autonomous Weapons; Data Solutions.

Shared Values and Norms

Shared Values and Norms

Privacy; Security; Free Speech; Transparency; Fairness; Equity; Open Data.

Trust and Cooperation

Trust and Cooperation

Trust; Data Governance; Government; Governance; Digital Rights; Human Rights; Regulation; Competitiveness; Geopolitics.

Society - Uses & Value

Society - Uses & Value

Culture, Humanities and Arts; Entertainment; Health; Education and Skills; Media and Journalism; Safety and violence prevention; Migration and Refugees; Employment; Housing.

Economy - Uses & Value

Economy - Uses & Value

Economic Development; Trade and manufacturing; Financial Inclusion; Economic Recovery.

Environment - Uses & Value

Environment - Uses & Value

Agriculture; Sustainability; Food Security; Environment; Energy; Cities; Sustainable Development; Transportation.

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The Datasphere Initiative is a global network of stakeholders fostering a holistic and innovative approach to data governance to build agile frameworks to responsibly unlock the value of data for all.

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