National Data Strategy (NDS) 2020 ‑ Mission 1

Abstract

Mission 1 of the National Data Strategy (five-mission framework) focuses on unlocking the value of data across the economy, while ensuring responsible, secure, and ethical use. This mission is highly relevant to managing risks associated with enhancing access to sensitive research data, including personal data, by promoting transparency, security, and appropriate mitigation measures. It emphasizes a balance between harnessing data for innovation and safeguarding the rights and interests of stakeholders.

It focuses on enabling safe and lawful sharing of sensitive data, such as personal or health-related data, by applying appropriate governance frameworks and privacy-enhancing technologies. The strategy highlights the need for transparent management of risks associated with sensitive data access, including risks to privacy, security, and ethical principles. The NDS strategy also advocates for secure data environments that ensure sensitive data is accessed only by certified researchers under strict governance.

Mission 1 aligns with the UK's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements for transparency in cases of digital security breaches. It emphasizes the importance of ensuring that stakeholders (including researchers, participants, and the public) are notified in cases of security incidents that may affect their rights and interests.

Overview

Country	United Kingdom
Start date	2020
Annual Budget	n/a
Responsible organisation(s)	Ministry
Target group(s)	The strategy targets businesses, public sector bodies, researchers, and the general public
Policy instrument type	This is a strategic framework designed to guide data policy and practices

Background

The strategy was developed to address the barriers to data sharing and to ensure that the UK can harness the full potential of data. It builds on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic about the importance of data in decision-making and service delivery

Objective(s)

To encourage maximizing data's value by improving access and sharing, including research data funded by public bodies.

To promote the adoption of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs), such as differential privacy, homomorphic encryption, and secure multiparty computation, to enable safe use of sensitive data.

Public access URL

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-national-data-strategy/national-data-strategy

All tags

• Data governance for trust
• United Kingdom
• 2020
• Ministry
• Civil society
• Established researchers
• Firms
• Higher education institutes
• International entity
• National government
• Private R&D
• Public research institutes
• Subnational government
• Strategies, agendas and plans
• Risk management and mitigation

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