Governance

data altruism

Voluntary sharing of data for public benefit.

How the laws define this

Both texts establish data altruism as the voluntary provision or sharing of data by individuals or organizations to serve the public interest or common good, specifically highlighting objectives such as research and public policy. Under both frameworks, the process involves intermediary entities operating under regulatory supervision to ensure data is handled properly. The instruments diverge primarily in how they structure organizational involvement and official recognition. The Datenstrategie für Österreich (Data Strategy for Austria) mandates that data donation be managed through designated data-altruism organizations subject to governance and accountability rules to protect rights and ensure appropriate use, while explicitly listing innovation alongside research and public policy. In contrast, the Draft Act on Data Management (Projekt ustawy o zarządzaniu danymi) frame organizational participation as optional, allowing entities that enable data altruism to register and receive a trust-mark subject to oversight and compliance with transparency and handling requirements, without explicitly mentioning innovation as a target objective.

Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
Poland	Draft Act on Data Management	In Force	Adds registration, trust-mark, oversight, transparency, and handling compliance requirements for organisations enabling data altruism.
Austria	Data Strategy for Austria	Adopted	Specifies management through designated data-altruism organisations with governance and accountability rules to protect rights and ensure appropriate use.

What it triggers

In Poland under the Draft Act on Data Management, organisations enabling data altruism may register and receive a trust-mark subject to oversight and compliance with transparency and handling requirements.source
The Data Strategy for Austria sets out a framework where data altruism is managed through designated data-altruism organisations and subject to specific governance and accountability rules.source

Definitions (2)

A form of voluntary data sharing where individuals or organisations donate data for the common good (research, public policy, innovation), managed through designated data-altruism organisations and subject to specific governance and accountability rules to protect rights and ensure appropriate use.

Datenstrategie für Österreich (Data Strategy for Austria)Definition 1 of 2

Voluntary provision of data by individuals or organisations for objectives of general interest (e.g., research, public policy); organisations enabling data altruism may register and receive a trust‑mark subject to oversight and compliance with transparency and handling requirements.

Draft Act on Data Management (Projekt ustawy o zarządzaniu danymi)Definition 2 of 2

Not to be confused with

data altruism organisation

Data altruism organisation refers specifically to a registered entity enabling the sharing, while data altruism is the voluntary sharing act itself.

data intermediary

Data intermediary is a neutral actor facilitating governed data exchange in general, whereas data altruism focuses on voluntary sharing for general interest objectives.

Questions and answers

What registration is needed for data altruism organisations in Poland?

Under the Draft Act on Data Management, organisations enabling data altruism may register and receive a trust-mark. This is subject to oversight and compliance with transparency and handling requirements.

How is data altruism governed in Austria?

The Data Strategy for Austria describes data altruism as managed through designated data-altruism organisations. It is subject to specific governance and accountability rules to protect rights and ensure appropriate use.

What distinguishes data altruism in Poland from Austria?

Poland's Draft Act adds registration, trust-mark, oversight, and compliance for enabling organisations. Austria's strategy emphasises designated organisations with governance and accountability rules.