Towards A Framework Of Data Protection For Open Data

Governments are one of the world’s largest generators and users of data. As such, they usually carry open data initiatives to release data for public use. The G20 has played a pivotal role in endorsing open data principles, particularly addressing data privacy and personal protection since the Hangzhou’s Leader’s Communique in 2016 and reinforcing it in later meetings (Branford-White, 2017; Godhwani et al., 2023). Data openness is a crucial movement that empowers civil citizens and organizations, allowing them to make conscious and informed choices. Nevertheless, open data initiatives sometimes face challenges while handling personal information and privacy. Creating protocols and benchmarks on database catalogues can address these situations. In addition, it is essential to include good practices for data anonymization to avoid re- identifying individuals on the basis of their personal data. This policy brief is built upon two cases where open data portals and data privacy are at a crossroads: the protection of children’s privacy in the criminal justice system and using sensitive worker information. These examples are intended to provide a broad and global perspective on the data protection issues since they reflect the experience and work of two different think tanks from different regions. The G20 can encourage developing and adopting agreed protocols and guidelines to balance data privacy and open data. This policy brief outlines key considerations that governments should consider to implement safe and responsible data protection policies, taking the aforementioned examples to discuss the application of this framework. Data sharing facilitates evidence-based policymaking and fosters transparency, stressing the importance of creating a framework for data protection in the public sector.