It concerns you and me! What conveniences does government data sharing bring? Experts explain the new regulations.

The Regulations on the Sharing of Government Data were officially promulgated recently, with the aim of promoting the secure, orderly, and efficient sharing and utilization of government data, enhancing the government’s digital governance capabilities and the effectiveness of public services, and comprehensively building a digital government. So, what exactly is government data? And why is it necessary to share such data? Let’s hear what the experts have to say.

   What data qualifies as government data?

  Government data refers to all types of data collected and generated by government departments in the course of lawfully performing their duties, excluding data classified as state secrets or work‑related secrets. Such data can be divided into two categories: first, business‑related data and processed data collected from enterprises and individuals, such as household registration records gathered by public security authorities, academic degree and diploma certificates collected by the Ministry of Education, and business licenses obtained by market regulatory agencies; second, data on natural resources and spatial‑geographic information collected during the performance of governmental functions, including urban pipeline networks, meteorological data, road infrastructure, and agricultural land information.

  Experts at the National Institute for Data Development note that, without data sharing, government data would be siloed across various departmental systems, creating “data islands.” This fragmentation hampers interdepartmental collaboration, impedes improvements in administrative efficiency, and significantly undermines the service experience for businesses and the public.

  Jiang Jiang, Vice President of the National Institute for Data Development: For example, when a newly established enterprise applies for a license at the Market Supervision Administration, the information it submits—such as its name, business scope, and registered capital—constitutes government‑generated data. Traditionally, starting a business requires filing with both the Market Supervision Administration and the tax authorities. With data sharing, the Market Supervision Administration can transmit relevant data to the tax authorities, so once the tax authority receives it, the enterprise no longer needs to provide that information directly to the tax agency.

  In addition to enhancing the efficiency of government services and improving the public’s experience, data sharing can also strengthen the scientific basis of policymaking. By integrating and analyzing multidimensional data on the economy, people’s livelihoods, society, and other domains, government administration can become more efficient and streamlined.

  Zhang Nan, Professor at the School of Public Administration, Tsinghua University: Simply put, at the level of road traffic—by better aggregating data on congestion and traffic‑light operations—we can identify certain patterns. These insights can then be shared with other departments; for instance, by providing them to urban planning agencies, future road‑development projects can be informed by this data, leading to more informed and effective planning.

   How can government data be shared?

  Having examined why government data sharing is necessary, let us now turn to how it is implemented. Furthermore, which specific types of data fall within the scope of such sharing?

  With regard to which data are to be shared, the Regulations stipulate that government data shall be classified according to its sharing attributes into three categories: unconditionally shareable, conditionally shareable, and non‑shareable. Government departments shall scientifically and reasonably determine the sharing attributes of government data and may not impede or obstruct the sharing of such data by arbitrarily imposing additional conditions or other means.

  The Regulations also clearly set out the application procedures and time limits for government data sharing: For data that are eligible for unconditional sharing, the relevant departments must, upon receipt of a usage request, issue a response within one working day indicating whether they consent to the sharing; for data subject to conditional sharing, a response must be provided within ten working days; and for data approved for sharing, the actual sharing must take place within twenty working days. These measures ensure that government data can circulate more swiftly among various departments.

  Zhang Nan, a professor at the School of Public Management of Tsinghua University: Previously, inter‑departmental data sharing was often described as “a matter of mutual consultation.” When one department held the data and another had a need, such arrangements typically required corresponding communication; some initiatives succeeded, while others encountered obstacles along the way. The Regulations now establish a clear mechanism, elevating data sharing to a core, fundamental task. Any data that is not shared must be justified by explicit reasons—such as confidentiality or other legitimate concerns—ensuring that only truly necessary cases remain outside the data‑sharing framework.

  In addition, the Regulations stipulate that catalog-based management will be implemented to enhance the sharing of government data and facilitate data‑request procedures among various departments.

  Jiang Jiang, Vice President of the National Institute for Data Development: This catalog is like an extremely detailed data dictionary. It not only provides a clear and comprehensive record of the specific content of each dataset but also explicitly outlines information such as sharing attributes, sharing methods, usage conditions, and data classification and grading. With this “dictionary,” users can easily determine which data they need and how to apply for it.

[Editor-in-charge: Zhang Qiaosu]

Source: CCTV.com