The focus of computer technology historically has been on the manipulation and communication of data and information. Yes, there’s always been the monstrously obvious admonition of “garbage in, garbage out” when speaking of data. But as our dependence on data grows, the issues of data quality, of making data better, have grown in importance and complexity. Data, it turns out, is endlessly nuanced.

Government Data Generation and Usage

Government has an enormous interest in data. It is an issuer of data when it assigns account numbers, for example, to its citizens to ease service delivery. It is also a considerable consumer of data in order to establish policy, measure program efficiency, support planning, and, just as with any business or individual, for decision making of all kinds.

But this isn’t simple. The term “government” masks the fact that multiple agencies exist, each with its own goals, never mind data handling policies and procedures. Sharing data across industries is as nuanced as data sharing between enterprises or even more so.

Understanding how governments think about the data they consume and generate is key to long term data security and online identity.

Talking with Data Expert Ian Oppermann

In this fascinating and stimulating conversation, Steve and George discuss these topics with Ian Oppermann, the former data director for the state of New South Wales, a director for Standards Australia, and advisor to multiple startups.

Ian shares his insider’s knowledge of government agency priorities and the fact that sharing data across agencies is “extraordinarily hard.”

Just at the Beginning

Standards Really Really Matter

Ian’s participation in ISO standards development comes from his insight that data sharing requires very crisp definitions, detailed use cases, and specific guidance for each use case based on privacy and data custodianship requirements. And he points out that we are just at the beginning.

For example, the latest ISO standards tackle the basics of terminology definition and use cases, ISO 5207, and guidance of data usage, ISO 5212.

These standards do address the use case of AI but even at this stage the standards address the basics.

People Matter

As with many technology management concerns these days, the concerns are rarely about the tech itself. They’re about people, too. Here’s Ian:

“If you want to use [data] for important purposes, you actually need people who know and understand what data is, who know and understand what data governance is, and who know and understand how to actually use the data for appropriate purposes and then put guidance restrictions or prohibitions around the data products you create.”

Ian concludes with:

“But [for] the general use of data, we're only just beginning to understand the power, the complexity, the mercurial nature of data and starting to build frameworks around it.”

Take a listen if you care about data management and governance in large organizations. We are just at the beginning of getting this right.

Dave Birch is an authority and an ambassador for identity systems. And a great conversationalist. With co-author Victoria Richardson, he’s just published Money in the Metaverse: Digital assets, online identities, spatial computing and why virtual worlds mean real business. (US link here).

In this discussion with Steve and George, Dave introduces the book and takes us into their thinking about secure, private transactions in the metaverse. Or metaverses as he points out because it will be a multi-metaverse world.

Dave doesn’t let the slow evolution of 3D hardware or its high price stand in the way of his enthusiasm. We’ve seen similar transitions before, ones that drive ubiquity and precipitous hardware cost declines so it's time to get out ahead of what's coming.

Much of the conversation is relevant to today’s concerns, in advance of widespread metaverse adoption. So take a listen.

A note on their book.

Even if you are slightly skeptical (or more) about metaverse breadth or arrival date, Money in the Metaverse is a very worthwhile read as it discusses so many of the essential components and concerns that apply in today’s world. The challenges, and solutions, to identification and privacy are examined at depth. Victoria and Dave have used the bright light of use cases, stories, and tech from our current situation to explore identity infrastructure that works in the real world and, according to them, may work better in the metaverse.

Lockstep's Steve Wilson just appeared on the NAB Digital Next podcast with host Alysia Abeyratne. NAB has kindly allowed Making Data Better to repost the podcast here.

If you want to understand how to untangle the knots we’ve tied around identity and identification online, take a listen.

Alysia asks important questions and Steve provides really crisp answers and explanations on:

• The evolution of digital identity
• Verifiable credentials
• Commentary on Australia’s Digital ID legislation.