This blog summarizes the brief originally published on the T20’s website by Lorrayne Porciuncula, David Passarelli, Muznah Siddiqui, and Stefaan Verhulst. The T20 is a G20 engagement group that brings together think tanks and research centres from G20 members and guest countries and organisations.
As we move deeper into the digital age, data has become a key resource in driving social and economic development, shaping policy, and advancing innovations like artificial intelligence (AI). However, the fragmented nature of global data governance presents significant challenges. Currently, data governance initiatives exist in isolated silos, limiting their potential for impactful global collaboration. To address this, a new initiative proposes the establishment of an International Decade for Data (IDD) from 2025-2035 under the sponsorship of the G20.
Why an IDD?
The proposed IDD would create a unified space for stakeholders—including governments, businesses, civil society, and researchers—to collaborate on data governance and development. By adopting this framework, the global community can better coordinate efforts to use data for social impact, innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development.
The call for an IDD is inspired by successful UN-led international decades, such as the Decade of Action on Road Safety and the International Water for Life Decade. These initiatives rallied diverse actors around common goals and led to tangible progress on global issues. The IDD aims to follow a similar path, fostering multistakeholder cooperation in solving data governance challenges.
Key Challenges in Data Governance
The brief identifies several major challenges that the IDD aims to address:
-
Data Access and Asymmetries: A vast amount of data is locked in proprietary systems, making it inaccessible for those who need it most. Developing nations often lack the resources and infrastructure to harness data for economic and social advancement, creating global inequalities.
-
Data as a Sensitive Resource: While data can fuel growth, it also poses risks, especially when it contains personal and sensitive information. Balancing data privacy, security, and sovereignty concerns with the need for open data sharing is complex but essential for global cooperation.
-
Fragmentation of Data Governance: Existing data governance initiatives are poorly coordinated, leading to inefficiencies. A unified, internationally endorsed framework like the IDD could bridge these gaps, facilitating better cooperation and knowledge sharing.
The Vision for the IDD
The IDD proposes an integrated approach to data governance that would bring together public and private stakeholders to address key issues such as digital self-determination, data sharing frameworks, and the development of new technologies like AI.
Key proposed initiatives include:
-
Digital Self-Determination (DSD): Empowering individuals and organizations to take control of their data and make informed choices about how it is used, thereby promoting trust and accountability.
-
Mutual Commitment Frameworks (MCF): Establishing structured agreements for data sharing, particularly in crisis scenarios, ensuring transparency and accountability.
-
Data Sandboxes: Creating controlled environments for experimenting with new data governance policies and technologies. These sandboxes can drive innovation and allow for cross-border collaboration in a safe and regulated way.
-
Data Stewards: Defining roles and responsibilities for individuals or organizations tasked with managing data ethically and efficiently, ensuring its use for societal benefit.
The G20’s Role in the IDD
The G20 is in a unique position to champion the IDD, building on the momentum of global digital compacts. By establishing a G20 High-Level Task Force for Data, the group could coordinate efforts to address data governance on a global scale, particularly in areas like AI, digital government, and meaningful connectivity.
The success of the IDD would also support the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by ensuring that data is used responsibly to drive progress toward these global ambitions. Properly harnessed, data can enhance preparedness for crises, promote economic growth, and support the realization of human rights.
Conclusion
An International Decade for Data represents an ambitious yet necessary step toward unlocking the potential of data for global good. By fostering multilateral collaboration and addressing the growing complexities of data governance, the IDD can help ensure that no one is left behind in a rapidly evolving digital world. The G20's leadership in launching this initiative would mark a significant advancement in building a data-centric, inclusive, and sustainable future.
Read the full original piece here!