Enabling Data Sovereignty for all Citizens
Citizens are increasingly using devices to collect and share data both in proprietary and open platforms. Often, this data is an exchange for a “free” service from a private provider, or locked within public and research institutions who are unable to open up the data for public good. Within public and social sectors, such DLT interventions can support citizen data ownership and management, and the use of predictive data models for improvements in public service provision.
However, there are common barriers for many cities, and regional and national governments across Europe wanting to implement data sovereignty solutions.
Challenge Owner
Since 2011, the city of Helsinborg (Helsinborg Stad) has worked actively - together with residents, businesses and academia - to develop new welfare solutions that improve quality of life in the city. In 2018, a decision was made by the City Council to invest in innovation with a stated goal to become one of Europe’s most innovative cities by the summer of 2022, and this year Helsinborg is one of the finalists in the contest to become the European Capital of Innovation 2020.
The Challenge
Helsinborg Stad wants to help citizens become the owners of their personal data generated by public administration, and second, be able to share their data to and across multiple providers of city services. The key perceived barrier to realising this concept is that each city service provider is under a different legal structure that slows down, or in some cases prevents, data sharing - citizen data is trapped in silos within and between service providers. Additionally, the types and formats of data collection is piecemeal and prevents a more holistic overview of a citizens’ public needs.
Opening up data flows within the city will enable the opportunity to develop services from shared citizen data, using tools like predictive analytics to improve and develop new services. Additionally, there is an opportunity here to develop a platform, service, or set of standards that can be scaled across Europe - dovetailing with the necessary European legislation, such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and eIDAS (electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services), and attention to the development of EBSI (European Blockchain Services Infrastructure) and ESSIF (European Self-Sovereign Identity Framework) to avoid duplication of infrastructure. Future interoperability with European backbones should be ensured early in the design of any solution.
Potential Challenge Areas
Enabling citizens to first own, then grant, share, or license their data with organisations for public and / or citizen benefit - for example, with social and health service providers.
Facilitating the licensing of open data from multiple data sources - citizen, public, and private - to help first create a more holistic overview of citizens and second, enable the application of data analytics and emerging technology to improve public services.
Helping to close the digital divide to ensure citizens have the necessary knowledge to safely manage and store private keys for accessing public services.
Facilitating the development of data interoperability between public service providers and private organisations to improve public service provision.