EU Should Not Ban Private Companies from Participating in Volunteer Data-Sharing Agreements for Public Benefit
The European Union is considering a shift in its data governance policies, with a focus on encouraging for-profit organizations to participate in data altruism. This concept, introduced by the Data Governance Act (DGA), involves individuals consenting to share their personally identifiable information (PII) for research purposes, such as the Personal Genome Project.
The Finnish Health and Social Data Permit Authority (Findata), established in 2019, serves as a prime example of a single authority that could oversee the entire data-sharing process in the EU. Findata was created to streamline the data-sharing process within Finland, providing a model for potential EU-wide implementation.
However, the current DGA mainly focuses on public sector and non-profit entities, leaving for-profit organizations out of the data altruism equation. To amend this, the regulation would need to explicitly broaden its scope to recognize and facilitate the voluntary sharing of data by commercial entities for social good purposes.
This can be achieved by defining for-profit organizations as eligible data altruism participants, establishing clear criteria and safeguards to ensure data privacy and protection, and incorporating incentives to encourage voluntary participation. A possible regulatory framework could build upon existing corporate social responsibility (CSR) models, with voluntary certification schemes, incentives, and a clear governance structure.
In an AI-driven economy, many firms compete not by having exclusive access to data, but rather by what they do with that data. Better regulation could help more for-profit companies share their data for social good purposes, addressing pressing challenges such as disease spread, urban development, displacement, climate change, and disaster response.
Researchers have increasingly turned to location data from private sector call records and mobile apps for understanding human mobility patterns. Many for-profit companies have the data the EU needs to help solve these social challenges. Aggregated mobility data from private firms can provide valuable insights, helping address these challenges more effectively.
Next week, the European Parliament is expected to vote on the Data Governance Act (DGA). It's crucial that the DGA includes for-profit organizations in the realm of data altruism to maximize societal benefits while safeguarding fundamental rights. The EU needs to create a solution that is available to all member states to encourage data sharing for social good.
Academic and policy discussions suggest that voluntary corporate actions may increase the political persuasiveness and credibility of firms, which can in turn influence the regulatory environment favorably. The increasing trend of CSR regulation in the EU highlights the possibility of embedding data altruism within strategic corporate responsibility frameworks.
No current direct amendment proposals to the DGA about for-profit data altruism inclusion appear in the reviewed sources. However, the European Commission’s evolving regulation landscape (e.g., GDPR reforms and CSR policy development) provides a context in which such amendments could be pursued. EU policymakers should seek to encourage the reuse of private sector data for social good by providing regulatory clarity for firms that want to share their data, paving the way for a more data-driven, socially responsible EU.
- The European Union is contemplating a widened data governance policy scope, aiming to draw for-profit organizations into data altruism.
- The Data Governance Act (DGA) has introduced the concept of data altruism, enabling individuals to share their personally identifiable information (PII) for research purposes.
- To fully involve for-profit organizations in data altruism, the DGA needs to broaden its legislation to acknowledge and encourage their voluntary data sharing for social good purposes.
- By classifying for-profit entities as eligible data altruism participants and setting forth clear data privacy rules, safeguards, and incentives, a more comprehensive regulatory framework can be built.
- In an AI-centered business landscape, competing firms often aim to excel not just by exclusive data possession, but by implementing innovative approaches to their data.
- Encouraging more for-profit companies to share their data for social good purposes could aid in addressing urgent issues such as disease control, urban growth, displacement, climate change, and disaster management.
- Researchers often look to location data from private sector call records and mobile apps to understand human mobility patterns, and many of these for-profit companies hold the very data the EU needs to address these pressing challenges.
- The European Parliament will soon vote on the Data Governance Act (DGA), emphasizing the necessity for the Act to incorporate for-profit organizations in data altruism to foster societal benefits while preserving fundamental rights. The EU should aim for a data-driven, socially responsible community that is accessible to all its member states.
