Connecting open code with policymakers to development | IGF 2023 WS #500

Knowledge Graph of Debate

Session report

Helani Galpaya

Accessing timely and up-to-date data for development objectives presents a significant challenge in developing countries. It can take up to three years to obtain data after a census, leading to outdated and insufficient data. This lag in data availability hampers accurate planning and decision-making as population and migration patterns change over time. Additionally, government-produced datasets are often inaccessible to external actors like civil society and the private sector. This lack of data transparency and inclusivity limits comprehensive and integrated data analysis.

Another issue is the lack of standardisation in metadata across sectors, such as telecom and healthcare, especially in developing countries. This lack of standardisation creates challenges in data handling and cleaning. The absence of interoperability standards in healthcare sectors further complicates data utilisation and analysis.

Cross-border data sharing also faces challenges due to the absence of standards. This absence hinders the secure and efficient exchange of data, hindering international collaboration and partnerships. Developing more standards for cross-border data sharing is crucial for overcoming these challenges.

Working with unstructured data also poses challenges, particularly when it comes to fact-checking. There is a scarcity of credible sources, especially in non-English languages, making it difficult to identify misinformation and disinformation. Access to credible data from government sources and other reliable sources is essential, but often limited.

Efficient policy measures and rules are necessary to govern data usage while preserving privacy. GDPR mandates user consent for sharing personal data, highlighting the importance of differentiating between sharing weather data and personal data based on different levels of privacy violation.

The usage of unstructured data by insurance companies to influence coverage can have negative implications, potentially resulting in unfair risk classification and impacting coverage options. Ensuring fairness and equality in data usage within the insurance industry is crucial.

To address these challenges, building in-house capabilities and utilising open-source communities for government systems is recommended. Sri Lanka’s success in utilising its vibrant open-source community and building in-house capabilities for government architecture exemplifies the benefits of this approach.

The process of data sharing is hindered by the incentives to hoard data, as it is seen as a source of power. The high transaction costs associated with data sharing, due to capacity differences, also pose challenges. However, successful data partnerships that involve a middle broker have proven effective, emphasising the need for sustainable systems and case-by-case incentives for data sharing.

The evolving definition of privacy is an important consideration, as the ability to gather information on individuals has surpassed the need to solely protect their personal data. This calls for a broader understanding of digital rights and privacy protection.

In conclusion, accessing timely and up-to-date data for development objectives is a significant challenge in developing countries. Government-produced datasets are often inaccessible, and there is a lack of standardisation in metadata across sectors. The absence of standards also hampers cross-border data sharing. Working with unstructured data and fact-checking face challenges due to the scarcity of credible sources. Policy measures are necessary to govern data usage while protecting privacy. Building in-house capabilities and utilising open-source communities are recommended for government systems. The government procurement system may need revisions to promote participation from local companies and open-source solutions. Data sharing requires sustainable systems and incentives. The definition of privacy has evolved to encompass broader digital rights and privacy protection.

Audience

During the discussion, the speakers explored various aspects of open source, highlighting its benefits and concerns. One argument suggested incentivising entities to share data as a way to counteract data hoarding for competitive advantage. It was noted that certain organisations hoard data as a strategy to gain a competitive edge, but this practice hampers the accessibility and availability of data for others. Creating incentives for entities to share data, therefore, was emphasised as a vital step in promoting data openness and collaboration.

Conversely, the potential negative effects of open source were also discussed. The speakers raised concerns regarding the need to verify open source code and adhere to procurement laws. They specifically mentioned the French procurement law, expressing apprehensions about the ability to effectively verify open source code and ensure compliance with regulations. These concerns highlight the necessity for thorough scrutiny and robust governance measures when relying on open source solutions.

Building trust in open source was another significant argument put forth. In Nepal, for instance, there was a lack of trust in open source, hindering its widespread adoption across different sectors. The speakers stressed the importance of establishing mechanisms that enable the verification of open source code, ensuring its reliability and security to build trust among stakeholders. They also emphasised the need for capacity building to enhance knowledge and expertise required for verifying and utilising open source code effectively.

Overall, the sentiment surrounding the discussion varied. There was a negative sentiment towards data hoarding as a strategy for competitive advantage due to its restriction of data availability and accessibility. The potential adverse effects of open source, such as the need to verify code and comply with regulations, were also viewed negatively because of the associated challenges. However, there was a neutral sentiment towards building trust in open source and recognising the necessity for capacity building to fully leverage its benefits.

Mike Linksvayer

Mike Linksvayer, the Vice President of developer policy at GitHub, is a strong advocate for the connection between open source technology and policy work. He firmly believes that open source plays a crucial role in making the world a better place by supporting the measurement and information of policy makers about developments in the open source community. Linksvayer expresses enthusiasm about the potential of sharing aggregate data to address privacy concerns. He sees promise in technologies like confidential computing and differential privacy for data privacy and recognises the importance of balancing privacy considerations while still making open source AI models beneficial to society.

Mike Linksvayer emphasises the crucial role of archiving in software preservation and appreciates the contributions of Software Heritage in this field. He highlights the separation of preservation and making data openly available. Linksvayer sees coding as unstructured data and acknowledges the importance of data collection in research on programming trends and cybersecurity. Collaboration in software development is facilitated by platforms like Github, which provide APIs and open all events feed, enabling the sharing of aggregate data. Linksvayer believes that digital public goods, including software, data, and AI models, can be effective tools for development and sovereignty, addressing various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Promoting and supporting open source initiatives is essential, according to Linksvayer, as they drive job creation and economic growth. He cites a study commissioned by the European Commission estimating that open source contributes between €65 to €95 billion to the EU economy annually. Linksvayer also stresses the importance of cybersecurity in protecting open source code and advocates for coordinated action and investment from stakeholders, including governments.

In summary, Mike Linksvayer’s advocacy for open source technology and its connection to policy work underscores the potential for positive global change. He emphasizes the importance of sharing aggregate data, advancements in data privacy technologies, and the promotion of digital public goods. Linksvayer also highlights the economic benefits of open source and the critical need for investment in cybersecurity.

Cynthia Lo

During the discussion, several key points were highlighted by the speakers. Firstly, Software Heritage was praised for its commendable efforts in software preservation. It was mentioned that the organization is doing an excellent job in this area, but there is consensus that greater investment is needed to further enhance software preservation. This recognition emphasizes the importance of preserving software as an essential component of data preservation.

Another significant point made during the discussion was the support for assembling data into specific aggregated forms based on economies. This approach was positively received, as it provides a large set of data that can be analyzed and utilized more effectively. The availability of aggregated data based on economies allows for better understanding and decision-making in various sectors, such as the public and social sectors. This aligns with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, which promotes the development of reliable and sustainable data management practices.

One noteworthy aspect discussed by Cynthia Lo was the need to safeguard user data while ensuring privacy and security. Lo mentioned the Open Terms Archive as a digital public good that records each version of a specific term. This highlights the importance of maintaining data integrity and transparency. The neutral sentiment surrounding this argument suggests a balanced consideration of the potential risks associated with user data and the need to protect user privacy.

Furthermore, the discussion touched upon the role of the private sector in providing secure data while ensuring privacy. Cynthia Lo raised the question of how public and private sectors can collaborate to release wide data sets that guarantee both privacy and data security. This consideration reflects the growing importance of data security in the digital age and the need for collaboration between different stakeholders to address this challenge. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure is again relevant here, as it aims to promote sustainable development through the improvement of data security practices.

In conclusion, the discussion shed light on various aspects related to data preservation, aggregation of data, user data safeguarding, and the role of the private sector in ensuring data security. The acknowledgement of Software Heritage’s efforts emphasizes the importance of investing in software preservation. The support for assembling data into specific aggregated forms based on economies highlights the potential benefits of such an approach. The focus on safeguarding user data and ensuring privacy demonstrates the need to address this crucial issue. Lastly, the call for collaboration between the public and private sectors to release wide data sets while ensuring data security recognizes the shared responsibility for protecting data in the digital age.

Henri Verdier

In this comprehensive discussion on data, software, and government practices, several significant points are raised. One argument put forth is that valuable data can be found in the private sector, and there is a growing consensus in Europe about the need to promote knowledge and support research. The adoption of the Data Sharing and Access (DSA) policy serves as evidence of this, as it provides a specific mechanism for public research to access private data.

Furthermore, it is argued that certain data should be considered too important to remain private. The example given is understanding the transport industry system, which requires data from various transport modes and is in the interest of everyone. The French government is working on what is called ‘data of general interest’ or ‘Données d’intérêt général’ to address this issue.

The discussion also highlights the importance of data sharing and rejects the idea of waiting for perfect standardization. It is noted that delaying data sharing until perfect standardization and good metadata are achieved would hinder progress. Instead, it is suggested that raw data should be published without waiting for perfection. This approach allows for timely access and utilization of data, with the understanding that standardization and optimization can be addressed subsequently.

The protection of data privacy, consent, and the challenges of anonymizing personal data are emphasized. The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is mentioned as an example of legal requirements that mandate user consent for personal data handling. It is also noted that anonymization of personal data is not foolproof, and at some point, someone can potentially identify individuals despite anonymization attempts.

Open source software is advocated for government use due to its cost-effectiveness, enhanced security, and contribution to democracy. France has a history of utilizing open source software within the public sector, and there are laws mandating that every software developed or financed by the government must be open source. The benefits of open source software align with the principles of transparency, collaboration, and accessibility.

The discussion also addresses the need for skilled individuals in government roles. It is argued that attracting talented individuals can be achieved through offering a mission and autonomy, rather than relying solely on high salaries. The bureaucratic processes of government organizations are criticized as complex and unappealing to skilled workers, indicating a need for reform to attract and retain talent.

In conclusion, this discussion on data, software, and government practices emphasizes the importance of a collaborative and transparent approach. It highlights the value of data in both the private and public sectors, as well as the need for data sharing, open source software, and data privacy protection. The inclusion of skilled individuals in government roles and the promotion of a substantial mission and autonomy are also seen as essential for effective governance. Ultimately, this comprehensive overview underscores the significance of responsible data and software practices in fostering innovation and safeguarding individual rights.

Speakers