With the over-indulgence of the festive season fading rapidly into the rear-view mirror, some of us may be returning to the real or virtual office already questioning the wisdom of those decisions to eat less/do more/learn stuff/be a better person in 2022. Here are a few thoughts to take your mind off sore muscles and kale salads; and three new year resolutions that will be as easy to keep as they are to make.
The London Data Charter was launched in September last year and there’s a lot planned for 2022: we will move forward with our pilot project on using data to inform the location of EV charge points, continue to review the London Data Charter Principles and develop useful resources for all Charter signatories. We’re also planning an event – with real people – in Summer 2022 to encourage existing signatories to recommit and attract new ones. The London Technology charter also launched last year and we’ll be supporting its development, alongside the expected growth of the London datastore, which will all help to get London, not just back on its feet but leading the way towards a sustainable recovery from the challenges of the last few years.
The national data picture is just as interesting: we are awaiting the outcome of the consultation Data: a new direction on reforming the data protection regime, the final version of the National Data Strategy, and the new AI Governance document promised in Pillar Three of the Government’s AI Strategy, as well as seeing how new tools such as the AI Transparency Standard are used in practice.
In the meantime, here are just a few things that you might resolve to do to support the Charter in 2022.
Shared Learning is one of the core Principles in the Charter. We are interested in hearing from you if you’ve used data to solve a problem, or improve a situation, and particular if you used data sharing either within your organisation or outside it to develop insights and new ways of dealing with old issues.
Promoting Trust is another core Principle, which we think is achieved through transparency, an ethical approach, and accountability for decisions taken. All of these things are easier said than done: 2022 could be the year when you build impact assessments into all significant decisions on data use or adopt a set of your own principles for data use, or even set up a data ethics board.
Collaboration isn’t a Principle but it’s at the heart of everything we are looking to do in 2022 – and at the simplest level this means getting more people signed up to the Charter so that we can expand its reach. Why not start 2022 by making sure that your organisation is signed up or encouraging someone else to – you’ll be joining a stellar cast of existing signatories including BT, Microsoft, Kings College and the GLA.
Finally, we’d like to know what kind of subjects you’d like covered in this blog, so if you have the chance please get in touch with dlutton@londonfirst.co.uk to let us know.
And a Happy New Year to all…