I’ve mentioned the UK Government’s midata programme on this
list before. The project aims to get companies to release data back to their
customers in a portable, electronic format, so that they can use this data for their own purposes.
This afternoon, the Government issued a press release
listing the first companies to commit to this programme. With some of the
biggest energy and financial services companies in the country involved, we are
(in theory at least!) involving virtually the entire UK adult population in the first
steps to managing their own data.
Of course, these are just first steps. The plan is to extend
midata to every company holding customer data in the UK. Moving from stated
intentions to actual actions will be hard work and will take time. Also, of course, this is not VRM. It’s just helping to prepare the ground for VRM. But hopefully
it is doing so in a sustainable, mass scale way.
Alan M
Government,
business and consumer groups commit to midata vision of consumer empowerment
The Government today announced a ground-breaking partnership with 24
businesses and consumer bodies that will see them working together to deliver a
new era of consumer empowerment.
The organisations involved are all committed to working with Government
to achieve its vision for midata, launched
today, and are endorsing the key principle that data should be released back to
consumers.
midata is a voluntary programme the Government is undertaking with
leading businesses and consumer groups, which over time will give consumers increasing
access to their personal data in a portable, electronic format. Individuals
will then be able to use this data to gain insights into their own behaviour,
make more informed choices about products and services, and manage their lives
more efficiently.
Today’s announcement marks the first time globally there has been such a
Government-backed initiative to empower individuals with so much control over
the use of their own data.
The overall aim of midata is to benefit the economy, by stimulating
innovation and growth, as well as companies and consumers:
For the economy
-
midata will encourage sustainable economic growth
by boosting competition between companies in terms of value and service, and
driving innovation.
For business
-
midata will create opportunities for businesses
through improved dialogue with consumers and increased trust, and the
opportunity to provide innovative new personal information services and tools.
For consumers
-
midata will allow consumers to access their data in
a safe and secure way and make better decisions reflecting their personal wants
and needs. New services made possible by midata will further assist consumers,
whether it be
in getting the best deal on their mobile phone contract or energy tariff, or managing
their lives more efficiently.
Launching the
midata vision, Consumer Affairs Minister, Edward Davey said:
“Currently, most
consumer data is held by service providers, meaning only one side of the
customer-business relationship is empowered with the tools of information
management. midata seeks to redress that balance.
“This is the way
the world is going and the UK
is currently leading the charge. We see a real opportunity here,
but others, including the US
and EU, are also showing real interest in the programme and the economic
benefits it can deliver. So if we want to continue leading the way, we need to
develop a platform upon which the innovation and services that drive growth can
be built. midata aims to do just that.
“I’m delighted that
so many organisations are supporting our vision and I look forward to working
with them closely as the programme progresses.”
The midata
programme marks a non-regulatory approach to consumer empowerment and is in
keeping with the Government’s broader focus on transparency and openness.
The next step will include
setting time lines and developing online 'personal data inventories' (PDIs) in
each sector, which will describe the
types of data an organisation holds about each customer.
Protocols will also
be established to handle any issues relating to privacy, data security and
consumer protection
midata is also working
with companies to develop common approaches that will allow customers to access
their data including their contact details, current tariffs and contracts, etc
and update basic information about themselves.
The PDI and access
work will precede the release of data back to customers in an electronic
format. The goal is to enable the first releases in the first half of 2012.
Notes to editors:
1. Businesses and
organisations that have so far committed to working in partnership with
Government to achieve the midata vision are:
-
Google
-
Visa
-
RBS
-
Lloyds Banking Group
-
MasterCard
-
Mydex
-
Avoco Secure
-
Garlik
-
Three
-
billmonitor
-
Moneysupermarket.com
-
Call Credit
-
EDF Energy
-
EON
-
Npower
-
Scottish Southern Energy
-
Scottish Power
-
British Gas
-
UK Cards
2. The following consumer
groups are working with midata to represent consumers' interests and concerns.
As well as working towards potential benefits, their input plays an important
role in identifying potential risks and helping determine how these
can be addressed:
-
Which?
-
Consumer Focus
-
Citizens Advice
-
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
-
Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
-
OFCOM
4. At the recent energy summit (17 October),
energy companies agreed to participate in work to enhance the switching
process, with a next generation online method of enabling customers to check
and change to the best deal for them.
The Government’s vision for
midata
Consumer Data
Empowerment
midata is a voluntary partnership between the UK Government, businesses,
consumer groups, regulators and trade bodies to create an agreed, common
approach to empowering individuals with their personal data.
midata is part of the Government’s growth agenda. It will help achieve
economic growth by improving information sharing between organisations and
their customers, sharpening incentives for businesses to compete keenly on
price, service and quality, building trust and facilitating the creation a new
market for personal information services that empower individuals to use their
own data for their own purposes.
Organisations can help realise the goals of midata by providing
customers with the ability to access and re-use their ‘customer data’ –
including data about customer transactions, interactions and usage behaviours
that organisations collect.
The aim of the
midata project is for organisations that collect, store and use customer data
to endorse and work towards the following goals and principles.
Organisations
collecting, using and holding customer data should:
·
maintain
and make available to customers accurate and up-to-date descriptions of the
types of personal data they hold about these customers. (Consumer Data
Transparency)
·
develop,
support and promote ways to release customers’ data back to them in a safe,
privacy-friendly, portable and re-usable manner. This data should be made
available to them online for free and to use as they see fit. (Consumer Data
Access)
·
minimise
risks of data breaches and invasions of privacy. This includes a) working to
ensure that all personal information is accessed and released safely and
securely; b) helping to create a personal data environment that enables
individuals to hold, use and share their data in ways they understand and can
trust, which protects their interests and empowers them to use their data for
their own purposes. (Consumer Data Security)
·
work with
other organisations via the midata project to encourage the innovation of new
consumer information services that deliver midata goals. (Consumer Data
Innovation)
Consumer Data principles
The following
principles will guide the project:
1. Data that is released to customers will be in
reusable, machine-readable form in an open standard format.
2. Consumers should be able to access, retrieve
and store their data securely.
3. Consumers should be able to analyse,
manipulate, integrate and share their data as they see fit - including
participating in collaborative or group purchasing.
4. Standardisation of terminology, format and
data sharing processes will be pursued as far as possible across sectors.
5. Once requested, data will be made available to
customers as quickly as possible.
6. The focus will be to provide information or
data that that may be actionable and useful in making a decision or in the
course of a specific activity.
7. Organisations should not place any
restrictions on or otherwise hinder the retention or reuse of data.
8. Organisations will work to increase awareness
amongst consumers of the opportunities and responsibilities that arise from
consumer data empowerment.
9. Organisations will provide customers with
clear explanations of how the data was collected and what it represents, and
who to consult if problems arise.