Businesses, government agencies, and researchers often avoid sharing data that would be mutually beneficial due to concerns about its sensitive or proprietary nature. Federal agencies can remedy this by establishing a framework of “data trusts” with clearly defined rights and responsibilities.

To Do: Develop and Pilot “Data Trusts”

To Do: Develop and Pilot "Data Trusts"

Congress should establish a bipartisan federal commission to study why data that enables public and private services isn’t collected equitably.

To Do: Study the Data Divide

Congress should pass legislation to create a national privacy framework that streamlines regulation, preempts state laws, establishes basic consumer data rights, and minimizes the impact on innovation.

To Do: Create a National Privacy Framework

The White House should direct federal agencies to support the development of shared pools of high-quality, application-specific training and validation data in key areas of public interest.

To Do: Develop Shared Pools of High-Quality, App-Specific Training and Validation Data

Data-driven innovation has the potential to be a massive force for progress. Data sharing enables organizations to increase the utility and value of the data they control and gain access to additional data controlled by others.

Exploring Data-Sharing Models to Maximize Benefits From Data

Policymakers should do more to spur data-driven innovation in both the public and private sectors.

Data Innovation 101

To unlock the benefits of data-driven innovation, policymakers should support publishing data the government already collects, collecting more data that can be put to valuable use, and encouraging industries to make better use of data.

10 Steps Congress Can Take to Accelerate Data Innovation

ITIF submits comments advocating that the U.S.government should support research to address pressing privacy and security concerns.

Comments to the National Science Foundation on a National Privacy Research Strategy

Congress should amend laws such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to make it easier for Americans not just to opt out of data sharing, but to opt in to donating their data for altruistic purposes such as health care and educational research.

To Do: Establish a National Data Foundation

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Editors’ Recommendations

Comparing Data Policy Priorities Around the World

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To Do: Develop and Pilot “Data Trusts”

To Do: Study the Data Divide

To Do: Create a National Privacy Framework