The London Data Charter is founded on Principles that create a “common reference point for public-private sector data sharing initiatives – but it’s not the only way that large datasets can be secured for a wider public benefit.
Despite the vast amounts of data, answering big societal challenges requires wider access, which is dependent on well managed incentivisation and collaboration. Flagship projects already up and running include UK National Data Strategy the EU’s GAIAX project and the OECD Recommendation on Enhancing Access to and Sharing of Data — and of course the London Data Charter pilots around Covid Recovery, Digital Inclusion and EV charging points.
Government can go further where there is an urgent need to mandate data sharing. Life sciences companies must share data with regulators and trade organisations. Medicine regulators are legally required to allow third parties to reuse data filed with the regulator, and some operators in the UK energy system have to share and disclose certain data.
The need to tackle climate change and sustainability and address the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals on everyone’s agenda has generated a parallel requirement to ensure data is shared to tackle key climate and sustainability challenges, plus a renewed focus on mandatory reporting and tracking of relevant data.
The International Sustainability Standards Board aims to develop a standard on climate-related reporting and consult on this first draft standard in early 2022. The EU has published a consultation on Shaping Europe’s digital future (europa.eu) that will mandate business to government data sharing where there is a public interest such as protecting the environment, and from April this year large UK companies will have mandatory climate-related financial disclosure requirements .
The latest development is the current consultation on mandatory digital waste tracking using powers in the new Environment Act with proposals including the creation of a digital record of household waste and giving tax authorities, local authorities, waste scheme administrators, environmental regulators and the general public the right to access it.
But why wait until the Government mandates disclosure? The more we can do to share data on a voluntary basis the better.
There are established data sharing initiatives of many shapes and sizes including the EU Data Spaces programme, the Data Sharing Coalition, and of course the London Data Charter and plenty of ideas about how best to share data including data trust or stewardship models as discussed in the 2021 ‘Exploring legal mechanisms for data stewardship’ Ada Lovelace Report.
The benefits of data sharing include opening up competition to smaller or new entry businesses, the creation of a trust infrastructure to facilitate data sharing, a positive impact in social terms and an enhanced ESG reputation.
When it comes to something like waste tracking voluntary data sharing, legal and regulatory uncertainty, and concerns about data quality, trust, and data ethics can emerge. This is clear from the current consultation on mandatory waste disclosure which notes that some data will be “sensitive” for GDPR purposes and recognises that digital exclusion may be an issue. Voluntary data sharing allows issues like these to be worked through in a safe space and enables the development of useful tools such as standards for interoperability, or smart contracts to tag and track data.
Of course, government also has a role to play by opening up more of its own data and providing the technical frameworks and assistance to make it easier and safer for businesses – especially SMEs — to engage in the data sharing arena. This will make businesses much more receptive to demands to share data for the public good in a trusted and fair manner.
In the meantime, it’s easy enough to sign up to the London Data Charter and to start putting its principles into action.