Data Strategy: The Road Ahead

This week the UK government's first National Data Strategy Forum kicked off - see further details here. Of particular note is the advances that can be made in healthcare (propelled by the pandemic need), namely, how Government will, in its Strategy for Health and Social Care:

1. use data to deliver more joined up and safer care, speed up diagnosis, plan local services and research new treatments.
2. give people better access to and control over their health and care data and provide more transparency on how it is used.?
3. empower people to take control of their own care and stay connected through data driven technology (such as apps or remote monitoring) where it can have a positive impact.?

Secondly, following its?review of online targeting, the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI) began a project?with the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT)?to empower users to make ‘active’ online choices. The CDEI and BIT have been testing whether different interfaces and choice bundles improve the ability of users to make informed choices about their privacy and personalisation settings.

Thirdly, how Open Banking, a leading Smart Data initiative, is helping consumers and SMEs better manage their expenses, reduce administration and save money. In particular, Imran Gulamhuseinwala OBE, Implementation Trustee for Open Banking Ltd,?has shared his insight into Open Banking?and specifically commenting:

"Of particular importance in the short term is the CMA consultation, published on 5 March, on the future governance arrangements for the Open Banking Implementation Entity. Serious thought needs to be given to issues of funding, governance, and the integration of open finance and Smart Data into future plans, as advocated for in Ron Kalifa’s recent Strategic Review of UK FinTech."
        

Imran has specifically made a call to arms following BEIS' publication of its?Spring Smart Data Working Group Report?which updates on the potential benefits and case studies of Smart Data, sets out proposals for cross sector coordination for Smart Data schemes, and lays out a roadmap for Smart Data going forward.?Key take-aways from the Report include:

• UK as a world leader in Open Banking, supported by its FinTech sector, which annually contributes ￡11 billion to the UK economy
• Adoption rates are growing (fast) by 33% in 9 months - users rapidly rising from 2m last September to now over 3m consumers and SMEs
• Highlights, in particular, the need for smart Pension Dashboards, to assist consumers and savers' incentivisation
• The need for consistency and standards to achieve cross-functional working in relation to:

Data standards – in particular, 

? coordination of API standards and data formats related to core data fields
 
? Accreditation – where there is a strong rationale for tackling unnecessary burdens and duplicative requirements for TPPs seeking to operate across markets (whilst recognising additional requirements would be necessary to operate in particular sectors, such as requiring FCA authorisation to operate within financial sectors) 

? Directory services – where a coordinated list of accredited TPPs could create efficiencies, and 

? Authentication – which enables consumers or businesses to prove to data holders they are who they say they are. In particular, the opportunity to adopt common authentication requirements across sectors        

• The suggestion of a 'Smart Data Council' to assist in the management of such standards and best practice in open data

And, if that wasn't enough to whet your data appetite: the CDEI has also just published its two-year review: see here for further details. In it, the CDEI has set out three key limbs result from its strategic review:

1. there is an enormous opportunity for the public sector to use data to better serve citizens
2. access to data for innovation in a trustworthy way is a significant barrier to responsible innovation (showcase examples include Open Banking, Genomics England, the National COVID-19 Chest Imaging Database (NCCID))
3. UK needs to develop an ecosystem for AI assurance products and services, as well as lead globally on the governance of AI - CEDI works hand in hand with the Office for AI to support the development of the National AI Strategy - see DCMS's report, "New strategy to unleash the transformational power of Artificial Intelligence" from March 2021 here.

So, nothing to see here, right? Move along. Watch this space closely. Remember, data moves as the speed of light. If you blink, it might pass you by.

Philip James

Partner, Global Privacy, Data & Cybersecurity, Eversheds Sutherland