From Data Blocking to Data Unlocking: Operationalising Trust in Open Data (From Framework to Everyday Practice)
Project BeOpen is about unlocking the value of high-value datasets[1] and making them openly available, in alignment with the EU Open Data Directive[2] and related High-Value Datasets (HVD) implementation regulation[3]. It’s about going beyond theoretical frameworks and moving toward the operationalisation of trust – making data sharing real, tangible, and trustworthy across sectors and domains.
And at the heart of it all is one essential question:
To share, or not to share data?
Trusted Data Sharing: Enough Trust to Share?
Access to data – open, shared, interoperable – is a foundational piece of Europe’s Data Strategy[4]. But we know the reality: data is often blocked, not because it can’t be shared, but because there’s not enough trust to share it.
“We are not ‘allowed’ to share, because:
It is Confidential …
We Face Compliance & Regulatory Restrictions …
It is our Intellectual Property …
It is Technically not possible …
We have the Policy not to share …
We do Not Know How and What to share …”
These are common – and often understandable – concerns. But to unlock the full potential of data for public good and innovation, we need to move from data blocking to data unlocking. That means building a data value ecosystem where trust is operationalised – not assumed or abstract, but embedded into systems, policies, and daily practices.
The Role of the Data Act: Sharing by Design
The EU Data Act[5] is a game-changer. It creates the legal and technical conditions for broader data sharing across public and private sectors, unlocking value while protecting rights. The Counsel of the European Union estimates that the Data Act could contribute €270 billion to GDP by 2028[6]. But as we know: There is no one solution. No one fixture. No silver bullet. This is a team sport. And trust is the rulebook.
This is where BeOpen steps in. It provides the architecture – technically and conceptually – to support trusted data sharing by design.
Trust as a Cornerstone of Digital Transformation
The European Union has been clear in its ambition to harness data for the public good: to foster innovation, empower users, and strengthen democratic control in the digital age. However, for data ecosystems to function effectively, trust is not a luxury – it is a necessity. This is where the BeOpen Trust Framework comes in: a clear, structured approach to embedding trustworthiness into the design and daily functioning of open data ecosystems.
Yet even the most robust frameworks risk becoming theoretical exercises if they are not operationalised in practice. That is why BeOpen goes a step further. With its combination of technical infrastructure, policy alignment, and stakeholder guidance, the project focuses on embedding trust into the everyday realities of public administration.
Who Benefits from Operationalising Trust?
The short answer: everyone.
Public sector organisations benefit from clarity and alignment with EU regulations such as the Open Data Directive and the Data Governance Act. Businesses and developers gain access to reliable, interoperable data resources that fuel innovation and reduce transaction costs. Most importantly, citizens benefit from the assurance that their data is handled responsibly and transparently, supporting democratic accountability.
Operationalising Trust with the BeOpen Framework
So, what does it look like in practice? The BeOpen Trust Framework translates trust into real-world components, tools, and principles. It supports public administrations, developers, and policymakers to share data responsibly, with clear guidance and technical infrastructure.
- Availability and Accessibility: Ensuring data is openly accessible, machine-readable, and available via standard APIs
- Quality and Reliability: Validating datasets for completeness, timeliness, and accuracy.
- Data Control and Classification: Empowering users with access controls and visibility into who uses what data, when, and how.
- Interoperability: Aligning with open standards (e.g. DCAT-AP, NGSI-LD) to ensure seamless cross-system integration.
- Transparency and Accountability: Logging data flows, user activity, and providing dashboards for auditability.
- Licensing and Reuse: Promoting clarity through standard open licences.
- Cybersecurity: Applying encryption, authentication, and real-time threat detection.
- Data Classification: Differentiate datasets by type (e.g. Open Data, High-Value Datasets, personal or sensitive data) to align with legal and ethical considerations, applying anonymisation where required.
- Education and Awareness: Providing user manuals and guides that support data literacy.
- Oversight and Enforcement: Embedding review processes and compliance checks.
A Pragmatic Approach: Operationalising Trust
A trust framework shouldn’t solely rely on abstract principles – they must be operationalised effectively to materialise trust. To make trust tangible, we need technical components that directly contribute to the trust principles. Components from BeOpen’s technical framework – from CKAN portals and Keycloak access controls to metadata validators and federated APIs – are concrete tools to enhance trust. Through practical components like the BeOpen Dashboard, MinIO object storage, and the Metadata Quality Validator, data stewards can ensure they are not only aligned with EU directives but also able to confidently manage and share high-value datasets.
Interweaving Trust in Daily Workflows
Trust components must be embedded in such a way that they enhance usability, not hinder it. Whether it is a city official uploading environmental data, or a data analyst querying mobility trends, the tools provided must integrate seamlessly into existing workflows. They must make daily work easier, not more complicated. And they must provide immediate, tangible benefits: better data discoverability, smarter access control, clearer audit trails. This is why BeOpen is building a hands-on guide, prioritising user experience and usability.
A Trust Framework for the Long Term
Operationalising trust is not just about compliance. It is about creating a shared language, infrastructure and mindset for how we use data responsibly and sustainably. That is why the BeOpen Trust Framework is open, interoperable, and replicable across contexts. It is built not just for now, but for the future.
As Europe continues to develop its digital public infrastructure and data spaces, initiatives like BeOpen provide the tools and insights to ensure that trust is not only promised, but delivered – every day, by design.
No Surprises. Just Trusted, Secure, and Purposeful Sharing.
May 2025. Blog by Arthur’s Legal, Strategies & Systems, consortium partner of the BeOpen project.
[1] European Commission. ELISE – European Location Interoperability Solutions for e-Government, Glossary: High Value Dataset. Available at: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/elise-european-location-interoperability-solutions-e-government/glossary/term/high-value-dataset
[2] Directive (EU) 2019/1024 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on open data and the re-use of public sector information (recast). Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/1024/oj/eng.
[3] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/138 of 21 December 2022 laying down a list of specific high-value datasets and the arrangements for their publication and re-use (Text with EEA relevance). Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/138/oj.
[4] Shaping Europe’s Digital Future: A European Strategy for Data. Available at: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/strategy-data.
[5] Data Act. Background information available at: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/data-act.
[6] Council of the European Union. Available at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/your-online-life-and-the-eu/#group-section-safer-connected-devices-nH57Tqib9H.