On 9 November 2021, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (CPM) organized the international conference “The future is data.” In his opening speech, CPM's secretary of state – Adam Andruszkiewicz, underlined open data's role in economic development as well as in increasing citizens' trust. Additionally, he mentioned the adoption of Open Data Program for 2021-2027 and the Act on Open Data and Reuse of Public Sector Information.
From the perspective of elementary citizens rights protection, a key speech was one by Christian D’Cunha, the European Commission representative, who rightly raised the issue that open data strategy should incorporate personal data protection as its main foundation. What is more, both consumers and entrepreneurs should recover control of their data thanks to the implemented regulations.
The public administration vision of opening data was referred to by Anna Gos – the Director of Data Managing Department in CPM, who as the main principle pointed out opening data when it is possible and closing when it is necessary. The first discussion panel concerned the newly proposed model of exchanging data from Data Governance Act (DGA). All the experts highlighted the lack of precise DGA provision, mostly with regard to sanctions, obligations assigned to actors appearing in this process or the compatibility with the binding law.
Sille Sepp from MyData, correctly indicated that it is individual human beings who should be in the centre of interest and that the rules should be constructed with respect for human rights.
Mr Mirosław Gumularz from Gumularz Kozik law company, underlined the lack of clear definition of the foundations of the reuse of personal data and the need to run the analysis of the compliance of the processing aim directly arising form General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Anna Lytra, a representative of the European Data Protection Board, pointed out to the necessity of creating a common procedure of processing data by the public sector as well as granting access and sharing data with its owners. She clearly stated that DGA should not lead to changes in GDPR.
In the second discussion panel, whose theme was open data and sharing access to data for the purposes of developing artificial intelligence/new technologies, the most important issue was humanocentric artificial intelligence which is to inspire trust. Moreover, the speeches also tackled the requirement of cooperating on the global level for creating regulations that help provide high level of citizens’ privacy.
Mr Wojciech Janek from GovTech Poland, presented the activities being undertaken for conducting the discussions leading to increasing the value of open data potential. These included traditional activities like running informal meetings of the public and the private sector or maximizing the potential but also educational activities, whose lack the speaker described as a brake impeding economic development.
The abovementioned speeches clearly point out to the need of conducting further discussions and activities which will tighten up the system of entity security with regard to open data projects. A few speeches rightly indicated that there is necessity of global cooperation in this respect, due to increasing digitalization of public administration and economy. Our Foundation will continue to monitor the legislative process of DGA and other related documents.