BY

THE PRINCIPAL PERMANENT SECRETARY

Malta is at the forefront of a technological evolution that is transforming society and our economy. It is affecting the way we communicate, interact, work, and carry out our day to day lives.

Data is at the core of all our technology and processes. The increasing amount of non-personal and public data, along with technological advances on how it is stored and processed, create opportunities for innovation, competition, and growth. Within Government, data is central to the delivery of public services. We need to ensure that this data is open for its appropriate consumption and use, empowering society to become data-driven.

Primarily, we need to keep the interests of society first, ensuring that the collection, processing, and use of personal data is in accordance with our values, fundamental rights, and rules. Individuals only trust technological innovation if they are confident that their privacy and personal data is being safeguarded. However, we also need to step up our use of data within Government, where data is governed and managed effectively and transparently.

The Public Administration Data Strategy views data as a national asset, having intrinsic value. We want to ensure that data is recognised as the fuel for us to sustain the digital momentum. But it also bears inherent risks. It needs to be governed, protected, shared, and consumed within a comprehensive regulatory framework that does not stifle, but rather promotes innovation. This means bringing the significant strides that Malta has made in digitisation within the Public Administration to their full potential, unlocking the value of public sector information.

This Strategy sets a comprehensive course of action that the Government shall be spearheading on technical, legislative, organisational, and cultural fronts in collaboration with stakeholders. It is not an end in itself. It is the start of a long, challenging journey that, ultimately, will see the Public Administration and the Maltese society further appreciate the value, power, and benefits of data collection and prudent management.

TONY SULTANA Principal Permanent Secretary

Acronyms

AI Artificial Intelligence

API Application Programming Interface

DESI Digital Economy and Society Index

EU European Union

FAIR Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable

GAIP Generally Accepted Information Principles

GDPR General Data Protection Regulation

ICT Information and Communications Technology

IEC International Electrotechnical Commission

ISO International Organisation for Standardisation

MS Member States (of the European Union)

OAB Official Appointed Bodies

OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

OOP Once Only Principle

PSI Public Sector Information

SL Subsidiary Legislation

URI Uniform Resource Identifier