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Towards sustainable and human-centric innovations – Two white papers published to shed light on personal data operations

A global nonprofit, MyData Global, and Finnish SME, Vastuu Group Ltd, take important steps towards open personal data ecosystems. Two recently published white papers take forward the general mydata vision that can, for example, help to conduct research and understand pandemics, like COVID-19, in a privacy-preserving way. 

The need for a human-centric data economy is evident: fighting and understanding the impact of COVID-19 in a privacy-preserving way and creating better public and private services are just some of the examples.  
 
MyData Global’s white paper, Understanding MyData Operators, is a foundational step on a roadmap towards a human-centric personal data infrastructure. It was a collaborative effort of 34 experts and supported by 48 personal data operators in 15 countries. The paper creates a common language, leading to a better understanding of the field and the roles different actors can take. From there, it defines minimum interoperability requirements and emphasises the need for governance.   

Simultaneously with MyData Global, its founding member, Vastuu Group Ltd, Finland, published their white paper called Empowering sustainable and human-centric innovations. This white paper describes more profoundly how data providers and data consumers can collaborate transparently through a service called MyDataShare.  

“We are really proud that MyData Global has facilitated this landmark paper”, says Teemu Ropponen, general manager of MyData Global. “Operator organisations worldwide have joined on a common journey towards interoperable infrastructure for using personal data across digital services. These operators commit to working in a way that not only puts the rights of the individual in the centre, but also sets them on a collective path to build ecosystems that work for people. The MyData operator philosophy is very much aligned with the recently published EU data strategy, which emphasises the rights of individuals in these developing infrastructures.” 

“Finally, we have a shared understanding of what MyData operator actually means. Vastuu Group initiated this work a year ago and then developed it further in the MyData Global community. This work shows the importance and power of the MyData community for building the guidelines for sustainable and future proof data innovations. The Understanding MyData Operators whitepaper defines the cornerstones for the next generation data business”, says Mika Huhtamäki, a contributor to both of the whitepapers and Deputy CEO of Vastuu Group Ltd.

Vastuu Group is the first mydata operator in the Nordics and a leading organisation in creating future proof and sustainable data business within human-centric ecosystems. MyDataShare is a service by Vastuu Group for enabling privacy and transparent data access by following the globally agreed mydata principles. MyDataShare is a new offering, available globally for all entities and organisations in need of a human-centric and transparent tool to facilitate their needs for secondary-use personal data collection, sharing, and access.

 

To download MyData Global’s white paper, please, visit: https://mydata.org/operators/ 

To download Vastuu Group’s white paper, please, visit: https://www.muntiedot.fi/en/whitepaper 

 

More information: 

Teemu Ropponen

General Manager

MyData Global

+358 40 525 5153

teemu.ropponen@mydata.org
 

Mika Huhtamäki

Deputy CEO

Vastuu Group Ltd

mika.huhtamaki@vastuugroup.fi

+358 40 061 6253 

 

About MyData Global: MyData Global is an award-winning international nonprofit. The purpose of MyData Global is to empower individuals by improving their right to self-determination regarding their personal data. MyData Global has nearly 90 organisation members and over 600 individual members across industries, and from over 50 countries, on six continents. The nonprofit facilitates the MyData community of several thousand personal data experts and enthusiasts.

About Vastuu Group Ltd: Vastuu Group is a Finnish data and ICT service company developing public-private-people ecosystems initiated from Real Estate and Construction sectors to other trust demanding business areas. Vastuu Group has been in operation since 2007 with a steady growth. We create a better and more sustainable life for people and the environment through reliable data with a human-centric foundation. 

MyData is described in the recently published European data strategy as a promising initiative for empowering citizens through exercising their digital rights.