Data solidarity: Operationalising public value through a digital tool

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Data Governance
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Current data governance frameworks primarily protect data subjects.
• Digital practices create broader societal impacts and power imbalances.
• Existing frameworks fail to address widespread inequities in digital societies.

Purpose of the Study:

• Propose a shift from individual data control to equity-focused data governance.
• Introduce solidarity-based data governance (data solidarity) as a new framework.
• Clarify the role and operationalization of public value in data governance.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual framework development for data solidarity.
• Prioritization of data uses based on public value, risk, and private benefit.
• Introduction of the PLUTO tool for assessing public value of data uses.

Main Results:

• Data solidarity prioritizes data uses, facilitating public value generation.
• High-risk data uses are subject to prohibition or strict regulation.
• Profits from data uses with private benefits and low public value are taxed for reinvestment.

Conclusions:

• Solidarity-based data governance offers a more equitable approach to data management.
• Operationalizing public value through tools like PLUTO is essential for global health data governance.
• This framework promotes just contribution of benefits and risks from data use.