The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has requested comments on the benefits and drawbacks of increased data portability. In response, the Center for Data Innovation has filed comments explaining that data portability maximizes the utility of data by allowing data collected by one service to be reused in another, thereby enabling the development of valuable third-party services. In addition, data portability fosters competition by reducing switching costs and avoiding vendor lock-in. The Center offers several specific recommendations for how the federal government can increase data portability, particularly in certain highly-regulated sectors, but notes that in many cases data portability should be encouraged, rather than mandated.
Comments to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on Data Portability
Daniel Castro
Daniel Castro is president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the world’s top-ranked think tank for science and technology policy, where he leads the organization’s work shaping debates on critical issues at the intersection of technological innovation and public policy. He is a prolific writer and respected public speaker on issues ranging from Internet policy and digital governance to artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. Castro also founded and is director of ITIF’s Center for Data Innovation, a leading voice on open data, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. He has played a key role in advancing the OPEN Government Data Act and has long worked on the policy and economic impact of data-driven innovation. His work on AI spans a broad range of policy issues, including adoption and diffusion, privacy and security, intellectual property, deepfakes and information integrity, and the economic and competitive dynamics of AI, as well as global competition and governance—particularly in China and Europe.
Joshua New
Joshua New was a senior policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation. He has a background in government affairs, policy, and communication. Prior to joining the Center for Data Innovation, Joshua graduated from American University with degrees in C.L.E.G. (Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government) and Public Communication. His research focuses on methods of promoting innovative and emerging technologies as a means of improving the economy and quality of life.
