The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act and Privacy

Overview

Attendees joined the Data Foundation for the final part of our three-part series discussing the Foundation for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (Evidence Act) and its implications for privacy. The Evidence Act is a critical legislative framework to enhance the use of data in policymaking—but while this law tackles many challenges at the federal level, our national data infrastructure is deeply enmeshed with data from the states. This discussion explored the challenges and strategies associated with developing appropriate privacy protections when sharing data between state and federal entities, as well as how to create beneficial partnerships between federal and state jurisdictions to promote access and use of data for policy making.

Follow-up Conversation

The day following the webinar, our Health Data Policy Exchange hosted a smaller, deeper discussion of the topics presented.

Speakers

• Annie Fine, M.D., Chief Science and Surveillance Officer and Senior Advisor to Data Modernization Initiative, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)
• Aaron Goldstein, Senior Social Science Research Analyst, Privacy, Data Sharing, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Baron Rodriguez, Director of Information Technology and Privacy, WestEd

About this Series

The Foundations for Evidence-based Policymaking Act sought to change the way we use data in government to create policy. The law improves access to federal data so that agencies and policymakers can craft better, more effective policy and programs, and deliver on services promised to the country. However, these benefits must be realized in meaningful, appropriate privacy-protected environments. How should we think about privacy in the era of big data and data sharing? What are the new technologies that our policy and regulations must respond to? And perhaps more importantly, how do we ensure that the risks and benefits are appropriately calibrated?

Join the Data Foundation, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, for a 3 part series to discuss these important issues and new ways to think about protecting privacy in a data driven world.

• Webinar 1: The Vision of Privacy under the Evidence Act: Exploring the Five Safes
• Webinar 2: Evidence Act Regulations: Public Trust and the Presumption of Accessibility
• Webinar 3: Working with Partners: Evidence Act and State Laws

At these webinars, attendees will learn about key provisions in the Evidence Act, current approaches to privacy from a policy lens, and important considerations in crafting policy and regulations that address privacy concerns.

These webinars are designed to help non-technical audiences understand key challenges in implementing privacy policy and assist technical experts in understanding how policymakers are approaching privacy.

After each webinar, attendees will be invited to join our Public Health Data Policy Exchange to discuss what these new privacy dynamics mean for public health data and how these topics can support their work.