Data access and sharing are increasingly critical for fostering data-driven innovations across the private and public sectors globally. Some studies show public and private-sector data are estimated to generate social and economic benefits worth between 1% and 2.5% of GDP but have not achieved their potential due to challenges such as lack of trust, and conflicting interests of different stakeholders.

The OECD’s evidence-based analysis and recommendations help governments navigate policy tensions and realise the full benefits of data for growth and well-being, while protecting individuals’ and organisations’ rights and interests. The OECD Recommendation on Enhancing Access to and Sharing of Data is the first internationally agreed upon set of principles and policy guidance on how governments can maximize the cross-sectoral benefits of all types of data while protecting these rights.

Recent publications

• Emerging privacy-enhancing technologies: Current regulatory and policy approaches
   
• Responding to societal challenges with data: Access, sharing, stewardship and control
   
• Health data governance for the digital age
   
• Mapping data portability initiatives, opportunities and challenges
   
• Enhancing access to and sharing of data: Reconciling risks and benefits for data re-use across societies

Cross-border data flows are critical for global economic and social activities as well as the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, underpinning daily business operations, logistics, supply chains and international communication. However, they are also seen to amplify challenges such as to privacy and data protection, intellectual property protection, digital security, national security, regulatory reach, trade, competition, and industrial policy. Countries face the challenge of fostering a global digital environment that enables the movement of data across international borders while ensuring that, upon crossing a border, data are granted the desired oversight and protection – a concept also known as “data free flow with trust”.

Adopted in December 2022, the OECD Declaration on Government Access to Personal Data Held by Private Sector Entities seeks to improve trust in cross-border data flows by clarifying how national security and law enforcement agencies can access personal data under existing legal frameworks. It marks a major political commitment by the 38 OECD countries and the European Union. The Declaration is also open for adherence by other countries.

The OECD has also consistently contributed to discussions with evidence-based analysis at G7, G20, and other international fora to improve trust in cross-border data flows.

Recent publications

• Emerging privacy-enhancing technologies: Current regulatory and policy approaches
   
• Fostering cross-border data flows with trust
   
• Cross-border data flows: Taking stock of key policies and initiatives
   
• Interoperability of privacy and data protection frameworks
   
• Data localisation trends and challenges: Consideration for the review of the OECD Privacy Guidelines
   
• Mapping commonalities in regulatory approaches to cross-border data transfers