International access to restricted data: A principles-based standards approach

Abstract

Cross-border access to restricted government microdata for research has made relatively little progress. Recent developments are notable as exceptions. This paper argues that the situation is made more complex by the lack of a common general frame of reference for comparing objectives and concerns; this reinforces the risk-aversion in government organisations. Attempts to develop general international data access strategies therefore collapse to sui generis bilateral agreements of limited strategic value. One way forward is to decouple implementation from strategic principles. A principles-based risk-assessment framework, using popular multiple-component data security models, allows decisions about access to focus on objectives; similarly, secure facilities could be developed to standards independent of dataset-specific negotiations. In an international context, proposals for classification systems are easier to agree than specific multilateral implementations. Moreover, a principles-based approach can be aligned with organisational goals, allowing countries to signal strategic intentions to others without the need for explicit commitment. The paper uses examples from the UK, US and cross-European projects to show how such principles-based standards have worked on a within-country basis and may help to resolve immediate practical issues.