Research Explore Government Information Sharing

January 28, 2015

In recognition of Data Privacy Day, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) has released independent research it had commissioned to provide a privacy perspective on multi-stakeholder government information sharing projects.

The paper entitled Government Information Sharing: Is Data Going Out of the Silos, Into the Mines? provides an overview of government information sharing projects across Canada and internationally, potential frameworks for analysis, citizen expectations, and an examination of actions taken to protect privacy.

As the authors stated, this paper scratches the surface on the number of multi-stakeholder citizen-centred government information sharing projects occurring but provides a critical look at the variety of projects undertaken, the concept of big data, the transparency or lack thereof involved in projects, and citizen reactions to different projects.

The paper concludes with an analysis of the risks involved in information sharing projects and proposals, including but not limited to legal authority, security management, organizational commitment to privacy, and public relations and communications.